How to say "unique" in Japanese

• 唯一ゆいいつJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjective, adverbCovers 'unique' in the sense of being the only one there is — sole and unmatched in number. Use it when stating the objective fact that nothing else of the kind exists.
  初はじめの一いち歩ほが唯一ゆいいつの難関なんかん。↗

  The first step is the hardest.
• 独自どくじJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveCovers 'unique' as 'distinctive to a particular person or group' — something original that is one's own rather than shared. Typical of styles, approaches or ideas developed independently.
  どの民族みんぞくも独自どくじの神話しんわを持もっている。↗

  Every nation has its own myths.
• ユニークJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveThe loanword closest to English 'unique' in its loose sense of unusual, original or individual. A natural choice for describing people, ideas or designs that stand out as one of a kind.
  会社かいしゃにパンタロンとアロハシャツを着きてくる彼かれは、かなりユニークな存在そんざいだ。↗

  He's a pretty unique guy, wearing bell bottoms and Hawaiian shirts to the office.
• 特異とくいCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'unique' as 'singular or peculiar' — markedly different from the ordinary. It leans toward the exceptional or odd, so it fits unusual cases or phenomena rather than light praise of something charming.
  マイヤーとその同僚どうりょうの研究けんきゅうは特異とくいなものだった。↗

  The study by Meyer and his colleagues was unusual.
• 異色いしょくCommon
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveCovers 'unique' as 'distinctive and novel' — standing out refreshingly against things of the same kind. Often applied to works or people whose unconventionality is seen as a positive, eye-catching quality.
  われわれの仲間なかまではあなたは異色いしょくの存在そんざいだった。↗

  You stood out in our circle.

Use 唯一 for the sole one of its kind, 独自 for what is one's own and distinctive, 「ユニーク」 as the direct loanword, 特異 for the strikingly singular or peculiar, and 異色 for the refreshingly novel.

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

• 唯一ゆいいつonly
• 独自どくじoriginal
• ユニークunique
• 特異とくいunique
• 異色いしょくunique
• 個性的こせいてきindividual
• 特殊とくしゅspecial
• 固有こゆうcharacteristic (of)
• 天下一品てんかいっぴんbeyond compare
• またとないunique
• 又無いまたないunique
• 冠絶かんぜつunique
• 比を見ないひをみないunique
• 一意的いちいてきunique
• 一種独特いっしゅどくとくunique
• 二つとないふたつとないunique
• オンリーワンonly one (person, thing)
• 唯一無二ゆいいつむにone and only
• 唯一不二ゆいいつふじone and only
• 唯一無比ゆいいつむひone and only
• 類を見ないるいをみないunprecedented
• 比類ないひるいないpeerless
• 代替不可能だいたいふかのうnon-substitutable
• 類まれたぐいまれrare
• 並びないならびないunparalleled
• 比類のないひるいのないunparalleled
• 並びなきならびなきunparalleled
• ないunique
• オリジナルunique (e.g. product)
• 一流いちりゅうcharacteristic (of)
• 一意いちいunique
• 独歩どっぽunique
• 無二無三むにむさんone and only