Readings: ム, ブ (Onyomi), な.い (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Nothing, none, not, without
The character 無 is thought to be derived from a pictograph of a person dancing (originally 舞) with ornaments. This character was later borrowed to represent the concept of “nothing” or “not having,” implying the absence or vanishing of things.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 無 consists of 12 strokes. It starts with two horizontal strokes at the top, followed by a series of diagonal, vertical, and horizontal strokes forming the intricate center and bottom parts, finishing with two sweeping strokes (払い) at the very bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 禸 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | Jouyou Kanji (Secondary School Level) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ム (Mu)
- ブ (Bu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- な.い (na.i)
Common Words Using 無
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 無料 | むりょう | free (of charge) |
| 無理 | むり | impossible, unreasonable |
| 無事 | ぶじ | safety, peace |
| 無数 | むすう | countless |
| 無駄 | むだ | waste, uselessness |
| 無休 | むきゅう | no holiday, non-stop |
| 無口 | むくち | taciturn, quiet |
| 無色 | むしょく | colorless |
| 無関心 | むかんしん | apathy, indifference |
| 有無 | うむ | existence or non-existence, yes or no |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 無い | ない | to not exist, to not have |
| 無くなる | なくなる | to disappear, to be lost |
| 無し | なし | without, lacking (often used as a suffix or in set phrases) |
| 無き | なき | (literary/archaic adjectival form of 無い) |
| 無く | なく | without (adverbial form, e.g., 全く – mattaku) |
| 無さそう | なさそう | seems not to exist (combining with suffix) |
| 無かった | なかった | didn’t exist (past tense of 無い) |
| 無ければ | なければ | if there isn’t (conditional form of 無い) |
| 無かれ | なかれ | do not (imperative form, archaic/literary) |
| 無しに | なしに | without (particle combination with 無し) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この部屋には窓が無い。
Kana: このへやにはまどがない。
Romaji: Kono heya ni wa mado ga nai.
English: This room has no windows.
Japanese: 私にはお金が無い。
Kana: わたしにはおかねがない。
Romaji: Watashi ni wa okane ga nai.
English: I have no money.
Japanese: ボールが無くなった。
Kana: ボールがなくなった。
Romaji: Booru ga nakunatta.
English: The ball disappeared.
Japanese: 入場料は無料です。
Kana: にゅうじょうりょうはむりょうです。
Romaji: Nyūjōryō wa muryō desu.
English: Entrance fee is free.
Japanese: それは無理です。
Kana: それはむりです。
Romaji: Sore wa muri desu.
English: That is impossible.
Japanese: 私は無事です。
Kana: わたしはぶじです。
Romaji: Watashi wa buji desu.
English: I am safe and sound.
Japanese: 空には無数の星がある。
Kana: そらにはむすうのほしがある。
Romaji: Sora ni wa musū no hoshi ga aru.
English: There are countless stars in the sky.
Japanese: 食べ物を無駄にしないでください。
Kana: たべものをむだにしないでください。
Romaji: Tabemono o muda ni shinaide kudasai.
English: Please don’t waste food.
Japanese: この店は無休で営業しています。
Kana: このみせはむきゅうでえいぎょうしています。
Romaji: Kono mise wa mukyū de eigyō shiteimasu.
English: This store operates non-stop.
Japanese: 彼は無口な人です。
Kana: かれはむくちなひとです。
Romaji: Kare wa mukuchi na hito desu.
English: He is a quiet person.
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