変
Meanings
strange; odd; weird; suspicious
Broad adjectival use for things, situations, or behavior that feel off, unusual, or questionable.
His way of speaking is a little strange.
This soup tastes weird.
Describes something that deviates from what one expected; often used when something is out of the ordinary but not necessarily negative.
It's unusual to get a call at this hour.
Noun meaning a change or modification; often used in compounds like 変わる (to change) or 変更 (change, modification).
There is no change to this plan.
incident; disturbance; emergency
Refers to an unusual or troublesome event; often used in set phrases like 変事 (unusual event) or 一大変 (a serious incident).
If anything unusual happens, please let me know immediately.
Prefix used in musical terms to indicate a flat note, e.g., 変ロ (B-flat).
I'm practicing a piece in B-flat minor.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉が変だsomeone is acting strange/odd
He's acting a bit strange.
- 〈場所〉で変が起こるan incident/disturbance occurs somewhere
An incident broke out at Honnō-ji temple.
- 変な〈物〉a strange/odd thing (smell, taste, sound, etc.)
There's a strange smell.
- 〈事〉が変になるsomething turns odd/off
The weather turned strange.
Expressions
- 頭が変crazy; insane; out of one's mind
- 君子豹変すa wise man changes his mind, a fool never
- 変哲もないordinary; plain; nothing special
- 変調をきたすgo out of order; go wrong; become abnormal; show strange symptoms; change for the worse
- 気が変になるgo crazy; lose one's mind
- 明治十四年の政変Meiji 14 political upheaval; ousting of Ōkuma Shigenobu and his supporters (1881)