無名
Meanings
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Refers to something or someone whose name, author, maker, or signature is not known or not given. For deliberately hiding one's name in modern contexts, 匿名 is often more specific.
They laid flowers at the grave of an unknown soldier.
The old painting is considered the work of an unnamed painter.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Used for people, groups, works, places, etc. that have little or no public recognition; often appears in phrases like 無名の俳優 or 無名時代.
At the time, he was still an unknown actor.
An obscure band gained popularity by word of mouth.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
causeless; without just cause; unjustifiable
Rare, literary or classical-flavored use where 名 means a cause, pretext, or justification; mainly encountered in fixed or historical-sounding expressions such as 無名の師.
The expression 無名の師 is an old phrase for an army without a just cause.
Usage patterns
- 無名の〈人〉an unknown/obscure person (e.g. an actor, artist, writer)
He was still an unknown actor.
- 〈人〉の無名時代the period when a person was still unknown, before becoming famous
Few people know about the time when she was still unknown.
- 無名の〈物〉an unsigned or anonymous item, such as a letter or piece of work
He received an unsigned letter.
Expressions
- 悪名は無名に勝るbetter to be infamous than unknown