Translation guide
How to express the idea of making something ambiguous, unclear, or vague in Japanese, depending on whether you are intentionally being vague, making a statement less clear, or causing confusion.
To deliberately avoid being specific, often to be polite, indirect, or evasive.
The most common and versatile verb for making something vague or blurring the lines, used for statements, meanings, or images.
彼は自分の意見をぼかして話した。
He spoke ambiguously about his opinion.
その質問には答えをぼかした。
I gave a vague answer to that question.
Literally 'make ambiguous', a straightforward and common expression. Slightly more formal than ぼかす.
彼は返事をあいまいにした。
He made his reply ambiguous.
Idiomatic phrase meaning to be evasive or not give a clear answer, literally 'muddy one's words'.
彼は言葉を濁して、はっきり言わなかった。
He was evasive and didn't say it clearly.
To blur distinctions, rules, or categories, often causing confusion or lack of clarity.
Used for making rules, definitions, or boundaries unclear.
そのルールはあいまいにされている。
That rule is made ambiguous.
Similar to ぼかす but often implies making something hazy or less distinct, can be used for boundaries or distinctions.
境界線をぼやかす。
Blur the boundary line.
To cause a lack of clarity, often unintentionally or through poor explanation.
Literally 'make hard to understand', a natural and common way to express making something confusing.
彼の説明は問題をわかりにくくした。
His explanation made the problem ambiguous (hard to understand).
Means 'to confuse', stronger than just making ambiguous; implies causing disorder or misunderstanding.
その情報はみんなを混乱させた。
That information made everyone confused (ambiguous).
ぼかす is more colloquial and often implies intentional vagueness, like blurring a photo or softening a statement. あいまいにする is more formal and directly means 'to make ambiguous', suitable for written or formal contexts.
The English phrase 'make ambiguous' is not always directly translated. In many cases, Japanese uses specific verbs like ぼかす or phrases like あいまいにする. Using a literal translation like 曖昧を作る is incorrect.