pre-noun adjectival
Describes something that is not as it should be, incorrect, or unfounded. Often used in fixed expressions like あらぬ疑い (unfounded suspicion) or あらぬ方向 (wrong direction).
彼はあらぬ疑いをかけられた。
He was suspected of something he didn't do.
話があらぬ方向にそれた。
The conversation went off in a wrong direction.
pre-noun adjectival
different; separate; unrelated
Indicates something is distinct, not the same, or unrelated. Common in phrases like あらぬ人 (someone else) or あらぬこと (something else).
彼はあらぬ人を見るような目で私を見た。
He looked at me as if I were a stranger.
あらぬことを考えてしまう。
I end up thinking about unrelated things.
pre-noun adjectival
Used for something unforeseen or surprising, often in literary or set expressions. Less common in everyday speech.
あらぬ出来事に驚いた。
I was surprised by an unexpected event.
ありえない means 'impossible' or 'unthinkable', while あらぬ focuses on being wrong, different, or unexpected in a pre-noun modifying role.
別の is a common word for 'different' or 'another', while あらぬ is more literary and often implies a stronger sense of being unrelated or wrong.
Derived from the classical Japanese negative form of the verb ある (to be), あらず, with the attributive form あらぬ. It fossilized as a pre-noun adjectival meaning 'not being (the expected one)', hence 'wrong', 'different', or 'unexpected'.