無む用よう

む

よ

う

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

na-adjective, noun

useless; futile; of no use

Means that something serves no useful purpose or will not achieve anything. Often somewhat written or forceful compared with everyday 無駄.

これ以い上じょうの抵てい抗こうは無む用ようだ。

Further resistance is futile.

彼かれの机つくえには無む用ようの長ちょう物ぶつがいくつも置おいてある。

There are several useless white elephants on his desk.

na-adjective, noun

unnecessary; needless; not needed

Used when something is not required or there is no need for it. Common in set phrases such as 心配無用 and ご心配は無用です.

ご心しん配ぱいは無む用ようです。
There is no need to worry.
入にゅう場じょうに予よ約やくは無む用ようです。
No reservation is needed for admission.

na-adjective, noun

having no business here; unrelated; unauthorized

Stiff or sign-like use for people who have no relevant business, connection, or permission. Modern notices more often use 関係者以外 or 無断.

門もんには「無む用ようの者もの立たち入いり禁きん止し」と書かかれていた。
The gate had a sign saying, "No unauthorized persons allowed."

na-adjective, noun

forbidden; prohibited; not to be done

Mostly appears in fixed compounds and notices such as 他言無用, 問答無用, and 天地無用; it is not a general replacement for 禁止.

この件けんは他た言ごん無む用ようでお願ねがいします。
Please do not tell anyone else about this matter.
箱はこには天てん地ち無む用ようと大おおきく書かかれている。
The box is clearly marked "Do not turn upside down."

Usage patterns

無む用ようの〈物もの〉a useless, worthless ⟨thing⟩
この無む用ようの品しなはもう処しょ分ぶんしましょう。
Let's get rid of these useless items already.
〈事こと〉は無む用ようだthere is no need for ⟨something⟩
この件けんについて弁べん解かいは無む用ようだ。
There's no need for excuses about this matter.
〈人ひと〉以い外がい立たち入いり無む用ようno entry for anyone other than ⟨person⟩
社しゃ員いん以い外がい立たち入いり無む用ようと書かかれた看かん板ばんがあった。

Expressions· 7

天てん地ち無む用ようdo not turn upside down; this side up
他た言ごん無む用ようkeep it secret; mum's the word; not a word to anyone
心しん配ぱい無む用ようdon't worry; nothing to fear; everything is under control
無む用ようの用ようusefulness of the seemingly useless
長なが居い無む用ようthere's no point in staying any longer; it's time to leave

Show 2 more

心しん配ぱいご無む用ようdon't worry; there's nothing to worry about; everything is under control
無む用ようの長ちょう物ぶつuseless object; white elephant; boondoggle

Kanji

無nothingness, none, ain't
用utilize, business, service

Related words

無む駄だN4sense 1
無駄 is the everyday word for wastefulness or uselessness, while 無用 sounds more formal or written and can also mean 'no need' or appear in fixed prohibitive phrases.
不ふ要ようN1sense 2
不要 focuses on something being unnecessary or not required, while 無用 can additionally mean 'futile' or appear in fixed prohibitions that 不要 does not cover.
禁きん止しN3sense 4
禁止 is the normal, productive word for something being prohibited, whereas 無用 conveys prohibition only in set expressions such as 他言無用.
不ふ必ひつ要ようN1
無用 is a more literary word meaning 'useless/serving no purpose', whereas 不必要 simply means 'not necessary' without implying uselessness.

Opposites

必ひつ要ようN4sense 2
必要 means something is needed, the direct opposite of 無用 in its 'unnecessary' sense.
用ようN4
無用 means 'useless' or 'having no purpose', the direct opposite of 用 in its sense of 'use' or 'purpose'.
有ゆう用よう
無用 means useless or unnecessary, the direct opposite of 有用's 'useful, helpful'.

Don't confuse with

不ふ用よう sense 1
不用 (same reading as 不要) describes something no longer used or discarded, while 無用 more broadly covers uselessness, needlessness, and fixed prohibitive expressions.

Word family

問もん答どう無む用よう
no use arguing; not up for discussion

Written forms

無む用ようUsage98%
Standard kanji spelling; the word is normally written in kanji in adult Japanese.
むようUsage2%

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound written with 無, 'not; lacking,' and 用, 'use; business; need.' The spelling transparently reflects the core ideas of 'no use' and 'no need.'

There was a sign saying no entry except for staff.