How to say "vague" in Japanese

• 曖昧あいまいJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'vague' in the sense of unclear or ambiguous statements, answers, or boundaries. The nuance is that something could be understood in more than one way or lacks clear definition. Typical when criticizing a reply that evades commitment.
  その法律ほうりつには曖昧あいまいな点てんが多おおい。↗

  That law is full of ambiguities.
• 漠然ばくぜんJLPT N1approx.Common
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Covers 'vague' for hazy impressions, ideas, or fears that lack concrete shape. It often modifies nouns describing what someone vaguely senses or imagines, such as a vague anxiety or a vague notion, rather than unclear speech.
• 散漫さんまんCommon
  na-adjective, nounMostly means 'vague' in the sense of loose and unfocused, as when writing or thinking wanders without a clear point. It is often better rendered as 'desultory' or 'distracted' than as plain 'vague', so it suits this sense only narrowly.
  寝不足ねぶそくだと注意ちゅういが散漫さんまんになりがちです。↗

  When you lack sleep, you are apt to be careless.
• あやふやJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers 'vague' and 'uncertain' for things whose status or basis cannot be pinned down, such as a shaky memory, a half-formed excuse, or an unclear position. The mimetic flavor gives a sense of wobbly indefiniteness.
  あやふやな手てつきで一いち枚まいの紙かみを動うごかした。↗

  She fumbled with a piece of paper.
• うやむやCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'vague' in the sense of left indefinite or unsettled, especially when a matter is deliberately kept murky or allowed to drift unresolved. Often describes how a dispute, responsibility, or question is glossed over rather than clarified.
  その問題もんだいをうやむやにしておくことはできない。↗

  We shouldn't leave the matter unsettled.

Use 曖昧 for unclear or ambiguous statements, 漠然 for hazy impressions or ideas, 散漫 for unfocused content, 「あやふや」 for uncertain states, and 「うやむや」 for things left unsettled or deliberately evaded.

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

• 曖昧あいまいvague
• 漠然ばくぜんvague
• 散漫さんまんvague
• あやふやuncertain
• うやむやindefinite
• とりとめのないincoherent
• 煮え切らないにえきらないhalf-cooked
• かすかfaint
• ほのかfaint
• 頼りないたよりないunreliable
• 茫然ぼうぜんvague
• 不得要領ふとくようりょうvague
• おぼろげvague
• つかみ所のないつかみどころのないvague
• つかみ所がないつかみどころがないvague
• 漠ばくvague
• 雲をつかむようくもをつかむようvague
• 朦朧もうろうdim
• 模糊もこdim
• 曖昧模糊あいまいもこobscure
• 不分明ふぶんめいobscure
• 埒もないらちもないincoherent
• そこはかとないfaint
• とりとめもないincoherent
• 要領を得ないようりょうをえないirrelevant
• おぼろhazy
• どっちつかずnoncommittal
• とらえどころのないhard to figure out
• 彷彿ほうふつdim
• 生ぬるいなまぬるいhalf-hearted
• 玉虫色たまむしいろequivocal (reply, statement, etc.)
• いい加減いいかげんlukewarm
• ぼうぼうvague (e.g. memories)
• もうもうvague (as in being unable to think clearly)
• 茫漠ぼうばくvague
• 空漠くうばくvague
• 漠々ばくばくvague
• いもしないvague
• おぼつかないunclear
• 生煮えなまにえambiguous
• ええ加減ええかげんlukewarm
• ヌーボーvague