How to say "unidentified" in Japanese

• 不詳ふしょうCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers 'unknown/unidentified' when the point is that details are lacking: a person, work, or matter whose particulars, such as dates or authorship, are simply not known. It can also convey 'unspecified'.
• 不明ふめいJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, suffixThe broad 'unknown/unidentified': something has not been made clear or established, as with a cause, a motive, an identity, or a person's whereabouts. When unsure which word fits, this is the safer choice.
  良よい新聞しんぶん記者きしゃは、どんなニュース源げんからも、つまり、出所しゅっしょ不明ふめい型がたのニュース源げんからも、学まなびとれるものはなんでも利用りようする。↗

  A good newspaper reporter takes advantage of what he learns from any source, even the "little bird told him so" type of source.

Both words mean 'unknown/unidentified': choose 不明 when something has simply not been made clear or established, and 不詳 when the emphasis is on details that remain unknown or unspecified.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 不詳ふしょうunknown
• 姓名不詳せいめいふしょうunidentified
• アンアイデンティファイドunidentified
• 未詳みしょうunknown
• 正体不明しょうたいふめいunidentifiable
• 未確認みかくにんunconfirmed
• 国籍不明こくせきふめいof unknown nationality (of a vessel, plane, etc.)
• 不明ふめいunknown
• 〇〇まるまるcertain