無む筆ひつ

noun

illiteracy; inability to read and write

Refers to the state of being unable to read or write, often used in historical or formal contexts. In modern Japanese, 非識字 (ひしきじ) or 文盲 (もんもう) may be more common, though 文盲 can be considered discriminatory.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには無む筆ひつの者ものも多おおかった。

  In the Edo period, there were many illiterate people.

• 無む筆ひつのため、手て紙がみが読よめなかった。

  Because of illiteracy, I couldn't read the letter.