What is the Kanji for "Nothing"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Nothing", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Nothing" is "無".

This kanji has 3 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Na".

Its onyomi readings are "Bu" and "Mu".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "無" mean in japanese?

"無" means "Nothing".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Fourth Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

無い: "Not". The Japanese adjective '無い (ない)' means 'not'. This adjective is used to indicate the absence or non-existence of something. It is commonly used to negate statements, such as 'I don't have a car' - (車が無い). It can also be used to express the lack of a certain quality or characteristic, for example 'She is not interested' - (彼女は無関心だ).

無: "Non" or "Lack of". The Japanese prefix '無 (む)' means 'non' or 'lack of'. It is used to negate or indicate the absence of the following word. For example: 無秩序 (むちつじょ) - disorder, lack of order. 無害 (むがい) - harmless, lack of harm.

無理: "Impossible". The Japanese adjectival noun '無理 (むり)' means 'impossible'. It is used to describe something that is not possible or feasible to do or achieve. It can also be used to express that a request or demand is unreasonable. For example: That is impossible - (それは無理です). I can't do that, it's impossible - (あれは無理です)

無くなる: "Disappear". The Japanese verb '無くなる (なくなる)' means 'to disappear'. This verb is used to indicate that something is no longer present or has ceased to exist. It can be used for both physical and abstract things. For example: The car disappeared in the fog - (車が霧の中で無くなった). My wallet has disappeared - (財布が無くなってしまった).

無し: "Without" or "Lack". The noun '無し (なし)' has two main meanings. The first meaning is 'without', indicating the absence or lack of something. For example: Without money - (お金が無し). The second meaning is 'lack', referring to the state of not having or possessing something. For example: Lack of experience - (経験が無し).

無料: "Free". The noun '無料 (むりょう)' means 'free'. It is used to indicate that something is provided at no cost, without charge. For example: This product is free - (この製品は無料です). I got a free sample - (無料のサンプルをもらった).

仕方無い: "Unavoidable" or "Helpless". The Japanese adjective '仕方無い (しかたない)' can mean 'unavoidable' or 'helpless'. It is used to describe a situation or circumstance that is out of one's control or that there is nothing that can be done about. For example: I couldn't help it, it was unavoidable - (仕方がなかった、仕方がないことでした). I was helpless to change the situation - (仕方がなかったので、何もできませんでした).

無論: "Of course". The Japanese adverb '無論 (むろん)' means 'of course'. This adverb is used to express certainty, agreement or an inevitable conclusion. It is often used to emphasize or confirm a statement. For example: Of course I will go to the party - (無論、パーティーに行きます). That is, without a doubt, the best solution - (無論、それが最良の解決策だ).

無くす: "Lose". The Japanese verb '無くす (なくす)' means 'to lose'. This verb is used to indicate that something has been misplaced or unintentionally gone missing. It can be used with a wide range of objects, from physical items to abstract concepts. For example: I lost my keys - (私は鍵を無くした). The team lost the game - (そのチームはゲームに負けた).

有無: "Presence" or "Existence". The noun '有無 (うむ)' means 'presence' or 'existence'. It can be used to refer to whether something is present or not, or whether something exists or not. For example: There was no agreement on the issue - (その問題で有無に意見が一致しなかった). The presence of sunlight is important for plants - (植物にとって陽光の有無は重要である).

御無沙汰: "Absence". The verbal noun '御無沙汰 (ごぶさた)' means 'absence'. This phrase is used to politely apologize for not being in contact or not responding for a long period of time. It conveys the sense of disappearance or lack of communication. For example: I apologize for my long absence - (長い間のご無沙汰 をお詫び申し上げます). I have been out of touch - (ご無沙汰しておりました).

無事: "Safely". The adverb '無事 (ぶじ)' means 'safely'. It is used to describe an action or situation that occurs without any problems or accidents. It conveys a sense of successful or smooth completion. For example: He arrived safely at the airport - (彼は無事に空港に到着した). We completed the project safely - (私たちは無事にプロジェクトを完了した).

無口: "Taciturn". The Japanese adjectival noun '無口 (むくち)' means 'taciturn'. It describes a person who is habitually silent or uncommunicative. This word carries the nuance of someone being reticent or disinclined to speak. For example: She is a very taciturn person - (彼女はとても無口な人です). The taciturn old man spoke only when necessary - (無口な老人は必要な時しか話さなかった).

間も無く: "Soon". The adverb '間も無く (まもなく)' means 'soon'. It is used to indicate that something will happen in a short period of time, often within just a few minutes or moments. It can be used to describe an imminent or impending event. For example: He'll be here soon - (彼はまもなく ここに来るでしょう). The bus will arrive soon - (バスはまもなく到着する).

無茶: "Excessive" or "Outrageous". The word '無茶 (むちゃ)' is an adjectival noun that describes something as being excessive, unreasonable, or outrageous. It can be used to describe actions, behaviors, or demands that go beyond what is considered normal or acceptable. For example: That's an excessive request - (それは無茶な要求だ). He made an outrageous demand - (彼は無茶な要求をした).

無用: "Useless" or "Unnecessary". The Japanese adjectival noun '無用 (むよう)' means 'useless' or 'unnecessary'. It is used to describe things that serve no purpose or have no practical value. This word often carries a nuance of contempt or dismissiveness towards the object being described. For example: That old computer is useless - (あの古いコンピューターは無用だ). His advice was unnecessary - (彼の助言は無用だった).

無知: "Ignorance" or "Unawareness". The Japanese adjectival noun '無知 (むち)' refers to the state of lacking knowledge, information or awareness about something. It can be used to describe a person who is uninformed, unaware or lacks understanding about a particular topic. This word has a negative connotation and implies a lack of education or insight. For example: His ignorance of the subject was apparent - (彼の無知はあきらかだった). I was unaware of the new policy change - (その新しい方針の変更について無知だった).

無能: "Incompetent" or "Incapable". The adjectival noun '無能 (むのう)' means 'incompetent' or 'incapable'. It is used to describe someone who lacks the necessary skills, knowledge, or ability to perform a task effectively. This word often carries a negative connotation and implies a person's inability to fulfill their responsibilities. For example: She is incompetent at her job - (彼女は仕事が無能だ). The manager was considered incompetent by his employees - (その管理者は部下から無能だと考えられていた).

無言: "Silence". The Japanese word '無言 (むごん)' refers to the state of being silent or not speaking. It suggests a lack of verbal communication and can imply thoughtfulness, reverence, or even awkwardness. For example: The meeting ended in silence - (会議は無言で終わった). They sat in silence - (彼らは無言で座っていた).

無生物: "Inanimate object". The Japanese noun '無生物 (むせいぶつ)' refers to an 'inanimate object', something that is not living and does not have life. This includes things like rocks, metals, plastics, and other non-organic materials. For example: Rocks and metals are inanimate objects - (石や金属は無生物です). The vase is an inanimate object - (その花瓶は無生物だ).

無限: "Infinite" or "Limitless". The Japanese adjectival noun '無限 (むげん)' means 'infinite' or 'limitless'. This word is used to describe something that has no end, limits, or boundaries. It can be applied to abstract concepts such as time, space, knowledge, or possibilities. For example: The universe is infinite - (宇宙は無限だ). Her curiosity is limitless - (彼女の好奇心は無限である).

無制限: "Limitless" or "Unlimited". The adjectival noun '無制限 (むせいげん)' means 'limitless' or 'unlimited'. This term is used to describe something that has no restrictions or boundaries, often implying an endless or infinite amount or capacity. It can be used to refer to physical space, time, resources, or even abstract concepts. For example: I have unlimited access to the data - (私にはデータへの無制限のアクセスがある). The universe is limitless - (宇宙は無制限である).

無数: "Countless". The adjectival noun '無数 (むすう)' means 'countless'. This word is used to describe something that is too numerous to be counted, an extremely large, limitless, or innumerable amount. It can be used to describe physical objects, abstract concepts, or quantities. For example: There are countless stars in the night sky - (夜空には無数の星がある). The beach was covered with countless grains of sand - (その浜辺には無数の砂粒があった).

無色: "Colorless". The noun '無色 (むしょく)' means 'colorless'. This refers to something that lacks color or is transparent. It can be used to describe liquids, gases, or other substances that have no visible color. For example: The water is colorless - (水は無色だ). Colorless crystal - (無色の結晶)

無効: "Invalid". The adjectival noun '無効 (むこう)' means 'invalid'. This is used to describe something that is not valid, effective or legally binding. It is often used in contexts related to laws, contracts, votes, or official documents. For example: The contract is invalid - (この契約は無効だ). The vote is invalid - (その投票は無効である).

無意味: "Meaningless". The adjectival noun '無意味 (むいみ)' means 'meaningless'. This word is used to describe something that has no meaning, purpose or significance. It can be applied to actions, ideas, conversations or any other concept that lacks meaning or importance. For example: His speech was meaningless - (彼の演説は無意味だった). That painting is meaningless - (その絵は無意味だ).

無意識: "Unconsciously". The adverb '無意識 (むいしき)' means 'unconsciously'. It describes an action or state that occurs without conscious awareness or intention. This adverb can be used to describe involuntary physical or mental processes, such as automatic reflexes or subconscious thoughts and behaviors. For example: He answered the question unconsciously - (彼は無意識に質問に答えた). She brushed her hair unconsciously - (彼女は無意識にまとった).

無関心: "Indifference". The adjectival noun '無関心 (むかんしん)' means 'indifference'. It expresses a lack of interest, concern or attention towards something. The word can be used to describe a person's attitude or emotional state, as well as the nature of a situation. For example: His indifference to the problem was frustrating - (その問題に対する彼の無関心が苛立たせた). She has an indifferent attitude towards politics - (彼女は政治に無関心だ).

無関係: "Unrelated". The adjectival noun '無関係 (むかんけい)' means 'unrelated'. It describes something that has no connection, relevance or association with another thing. For example: His unrelated comment confused me - (彼の無関係なコメントは私を混乱させた). That news is completely unrelated to the current situation - (その情報は現在の状況と完全に無関係です).

無責任: "Irresponsible". The Japanese word '無責任 (むせきにん)' is an adjectival noun that means 'irresponsible'. It refers to a person who lacks a sense of responsibility or accountability for their actions. This word is often used to criticize someone who fails to fulfill their duties or makes decisions without considering the consequences. For example: He acts in an irresponsible manner - (彼は無責任な行動をする). It's irresponsible to drive without a license - (免許なしで運転するのは無責任だ).

無害: "Harmless". The adjectival noun '無害 (むがい)' means 'harmless'. This term describes something that is not able to cause damage or injury. It conveys the idea of safety and lack of threat. For example: The medicine is harmless - (その薬は無害だ). Harmless activities - (無害な活動)

無理矢理: "Forcibly". The adverb '無理矢理 (むりやり)' means 'forcibly'. It is used to describe an action that is done against someone's will or without their consent. It conveys the idea of using physical or psychological pressure to make someone do something they do not want to do. For example: I was forced to do it - (無理矢理それをさせられた). He made me go with him forcibly - (無理やり一緒に行かされた).

無線: "Wireless". The Japanese noun '無線 (むせん)' means 'wireless'. This noun refers to the transmission and reception of signals or messages without the use of wires or cables. It is commonly used to describe technologies such as radio, WiFi, and Bluetooth. For example: This phone has wireless charging - (このスマートフォンは無線充電ができます). The wireless router is located in the corner - (無線ルーターは角の位置にあります).

無視: "Ignore". The verbal noun '無視(むし)' means 'to ignore'. It refers to the act of intentionally disregarding or paying no attention to something or someone. This word is often used when someone decides not to acknowledge or respond to another person or situation. For example: I ignored his request - (私は彼の要求を無視した). We should not ignore the problem - (私たちはこの問題を無視すべきではない).

無駄: "Waste" or "Useless". The Japanese word '無駄 (むだ)' can be used as both an adjectival noun and an adjective. As an adjectival noun, it means 'waste' or 'uselessness'. This word is used to describe something that serves no purpose or is unnecessary. For example: 無駄なお金を使わないでください - (Please don't waste money). このボタンは無駄だ - (This button is useless).

無駄遣い: "Waste" or "Squander". The verbal noun '無駄遣い (むだづかい)' means 'waste' or 'squander'. It refers to the act of using something, especially money or resources, in an unnecessary or unproductive way. This word is often used to criticize people who spend money or use things without careful consideration. For example: I need to stop wasting money on unnecessary purchases - (無駄遣いをやめないといけない). He squanders his salary on gambling - (彼は給料を無駄遣いしてギャンブルに使う).

無邪気: "Innocence" or "Naivety". The Japanese adjectival noun '無邪気 (むじゃき)' refers to a state of innocence, purity and naivety. It describes someone who is childlike, guileless and lacks worldly experience or cynicism. This word often has a positive connotation, suggesting a charming and endearing quality. For example: She has a sense of innocent charm - (彼女には無邪気な魅力がある). The little boy has an air of innocence about him - (その少年には無邪気な雰囲気がある).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "な" is read as "na". The hiragana "ぶ" is read as "bu". And The hiragana "む" is read as "mu".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.