なぞなぞ

な

ぞ

な

ぞ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

usually written using kana alone

A playful question or statement with a hidden meaning, often used in word games or children's entertainment.

そのなぞなぞの答こたえがどうしてもわからない。

I just can't figure out the answer to that riddle.

なぞなぞUsage71%
The word is usually written in kana. The kanji forms 謎々 and 謎謎 exist but are less common.
ナゾナゾUsage18%
謎なぞ々なぞUsage11%
Kanji spelling with the repetition mark 々. Recognizable but less common than kana.
謎なぞ謎なぞ
Full kanji repetition spelling. Rarely used in modern writing.

クイズ
クイズ is a quiz, often with multiple-choice or factual questions, while なぞなぞ is a riddle that relies on wordplay or lateral thinking.
謎なぞ
謎 means 'mystery' or 'puzzle' in a broader sense, while なぞなぞ specifically refers to a riddle as a form of word game.

Reduplication of 謎 (なぞ, 'riddle, mystery'), with the repetition emphasizing the playful, question-like nature of the word.