ナンセンス

also: ノンセンス

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Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

Used for statements, ideas, or situations that are absurd, meaningless, or illogical. Functions as both a noun and a na-adjective.

。

His explanation was complete nonsense.

そんなナンセンスな話はなしは信しんじられない。

I can't believe such a nonsensical story.

2

terrible taste; unstylish

jocular, humorous

Jocular, punning use playing on ナイスセンス (nice sense/taste). Describes someone's fashion or aesthetic choices as lacking style or being in poor taste.

ナンセンスな〈事こと〉a nonsensical thing/idea
そんなナンセンスな話はなしは聞ききたくない。
I don't want to hear such a nonsensical story.
ナンセンスな〈物もの〉something in terrible taste (fashion, etc.)
彼かれの派は手でな服ふくはナンセンスだと笑わらわれた。
His flashy outfit was laughed at as being in terrible taste.
〈事こと〉はナンセンスだthat (idea/rule) is nonsense
この規き則そくはナンセンスだと思おもう。
I think this rule is nonsense.

無む意い味みN2sense 1
無意味 is a neutral, common word for 'meaningless', while ナンセンス carries a slightly more mocking, borrowed-word flavor when calling something absurd.
ばかばかしいN2sense 1
馬鹿馬鹿しい is a native i-adjective meaning 'ridiculous' with a stronger emotional charge, while ナンセンス is a calmer, more intellectual way to call an idea absurd.
荒こう唐とう無む稽けい sense 1
荒唐無稽 is a formal, literary four-character phrase for something wildly implausible, whereas ナンセンス is a casual loanword used in everyday speech.

合ごう理り的てきN1sense 1
合理的 describes something logical and rational, the opposite of calling an idea ナンセンス (illogical or absurd).
ナイスセンス sense 2
ナイスセンス jokingly means 'good taste', the direct pun-based opposite of the jocular ナンセンス used to mean 'terrible taste'.

ナンセンスUsage98%
Standard katakana loanword from English 'nonsense'.
ノンセンスUsage2%
search-only kana form
Search-only variant; not a common practical spelling.

Loanword from English 'nonsense'. The jocular sense 2 is a Japanese pun on ナイスセンス (nice sense).