noun
riddle; puzzle; enigma; mystery
Refers to a question or problem that requires clever thinking to solve, or something that is difficult to understand or explain.
この謎を解ける人はいますか？
Is there anyone who can solve this riddle?
彼の失踪は今も謎のままだ。
His disappearance remains a mystery even now.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Used adjectivally with の to describe something that is puzzling or hard to understand.
彼は謎の人物だ。
He is a mysterious person.
その事件には謎の点が多い。
There are many puzzling points in that case.
The kanji 謎 combines 言 (speech) and 迷 (astray, perplex), suggesting a verbal puzzle that leads one astray. The reading なぞ is of native Japanese origin, with uncertain further derivation.