also: ゆうむ
noun
existence or nonexistence; presence or absence
Used in formal or written contexts to ask or state whether something exists or is present. Often appears in the pattern 有無を問わず (regardless of presence/absence).
経験の有無は問いません。
We do not ask about the presence or absence of experience.
資料の有無を確認してください。
Please check whether the materials exist.
noun
Refers to a person's agreement or rejection, often in formal decision-making contexts. Common in the phrase 有無を言わせず (without giving a chance to say yes or no).
彼は有無を言わせずに契約を進めた。
He pushed the contract forward without giving them a chance to say yes or no.
相手の有無を確かめる必要がある。
We need to confirm the other party's consent or refusal.
Obsolete reading; not used in modern Japanese.
Compound of 有 (existence) and 無 (nonexistence). The reading うむ is the standard Sino-Japanese reading; ゆうむ is an older, now obsolete reading.