Absence and nothingness with 無
The kanji 無 means without, not have, or nothingness. It marks the absence of something that might otherwise be expected. It appears in words about impossibility, lack, worthlessness, indifference, the unlimited, and states where some quality is simply not present.
Ability and Knowledge
無能 (Incompetence)
無能 means incompetence, incapability, or ineffectiveness. It describes a lack of ability, skill, or effectiveness in carrying out tasks or fulfilling responsibilities.
It combines 無 (nothing) with 能 (ability) to show lack of ability.
Police detective Yokomizo isn’t about to let Sasai, his prime murder suspect, leave. Sasai reminds the officer that he has photographic proof that he wasn’t near the victim at the time of the murder. He calls for Detective Mouri to back him up.
- 笹井:
- 「名探偵のあなたからもいってやってくださいよ。 この刑事がいかに無能かという事を…」
- “You, the great detective, should tell him yourself. Just how incompetent this police detective is...”
Attention and Distinction
無差別 (Indiscriminate)
無差別 means indiscriminate or without distinction. It describes treating all targets the same without separating among types, individuals, or circumstances.
It is often used in serious contexts such as attacks, violence, or mass actions that do not distinguish among victims.
It combines 無 (without) with 差別 (distinction) to show action taken without making distinctions.
Sonoko is invited to a band’s after party. During the get-together, the band’s singer Tatsuya eats a rice ball only to collapse and die. The police are called in, and Inspector Megure discovers the victim was poisoned. He accuses the man who prepared the food, but Conan bites into a rice ball to show it’s safe. The victim’s manager, Mari, agrees.
- 麻理:
- 「無差別殺人ならともかく、たまたま達也が食べたオニギリだけに、あらかじめ毒を仕込むのは不可能じゃありません？」
- “If it were indiscriminate murder, that's one thing but since it was just the rice ball Tatsuya happened to eat, wouldn't it be impossible to poison it beforehand?”
- 目暮:
- 「た、確かにそうだが…」
- “Th-that's true.”
Limits and Possibility
無理 (Impossible)
無理 means impossible, unreasonable, or too much to ask. It describes something that cannot be done or that forces things beyond proper limits.
In conversation it often means both “that’s impossible” and “don’t push yourself too hard”.
It combines 無 (without) with 理 (reason) to show something without workable logic.
Takeo hopes to get into the same college as his girlfriend, Rinko. Going into a mock exam, he listed the top college Rinko is aiming for. However, the results came back saying it would be impossible for him to get into Rinko’s top choice.
Rinko tells Takeo she didn’t do well for that college either, so they should both aim for her second choice. Takeo asks if Rinko is okay with giving up on her top choice.
- 凛子:
- 「あはは あれはいーのいーの」
- “Ha ha, I'm okay with that.”
- 「だってたけおくんは絶対ムリだもん」
- “I say that because it'd be impossible for you to go, Takeo.”
- “Ha ha, I'm okay with that.”
Rinko’s first choice was a women’s college, making her boyfriend, Takeo, ineligible to attend.
Presence and Omission
無事 (Safety)
無事 means safety, being unharmed, or going without incident. It refers to a condition where no trouble has occurred.
It is commonly used after danger, travel, accidents, or difficult events.
It combines 無 (without) with 事 (incident) to show without incident.
Ninako is on the train after school when she notices Ren, a popular boy from school, sleeping a few seats down. The boy suddenly wakes as the train comes to a stop, and he hurries to get off, accidentally knocking Ninako’s phone from her hand. It falls to the floor, and the phone strap charm breaks. Ren misses his exit as he stops to apologize to Ninako, saying he’ll replace the charm.
- 仁奈子:
- 「だっ 大丈夫ですっ」
- “I---it's all right.”
- 「ケータイは無事だし！」
- “Since my cell phone is safe!”
- 「それにこのストラップただのジュースのおまけだし」
- “Furthermore, this strap is just a juice prize.”
- 「しかももうだいぶ前〜〜〜〜のやつで古いから」
- “Plus, it's from way back when, so it's old.”
- “I---it's all right.”
無断 (Without permission)
無断 means without permission, without notice, or without obtaining someone’s consent first. It is commonly used for acts done on one’s own authority, such as entering, leaving, using, copying, or reposting something.
The word often appears in warnings and rules, where it marks an action as unauthorized.
It combines 無 (without) with 断 (decision) to show something done without prior approval.
Sazanka sneaks out of class, leaving the teacher to send Asagao to bring her back. As Asagao chases Sazanka across the rooftops near the upper grade classroom, Tsubaki spots them. She meets them up on the roof and recites the school’s first rule.
- ツバキ:
- 「ひとつ。無断で勝手な行動をとるべからず。」
- “One: Doing as you please without permission is strictly forbidden.”