謎なぞ

な

ぞ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

Refers to a question or problem that requires clever thinking to solve, or something that is difficult to understand or explain.

この謎なぞを解とける人ひとはいますか？
Is there anyone who can solve this riddle?
彼かれの失しっ踪そうは今いまも謎なぞのままだ。
His disappearance remains a mystery even now.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

enigmatic; mysterious

Used adjectivally with の to describe something that is puzzling or hard to understand.

彼かれは謎なぞの人じん物ぶつだ。
He is a mysterious person.
その事じ件けんには謎なぞの点てんが多おおい。
There are many puzzling points in that case.

See all 125 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉が謎なぞに包つつまれるfor something to be wrapped in mystery
その事じ件けんはいまだに謎なぞに包つつまれている。
That incident is still wrapped in mystery.
謎なぞの〈人ひと〉a mysterious (unidentified) person
駅えき前まえに謎なぞの人じん物ぶつが立たっていた。
A mysterious figure was standing in front of the station.
謎なぞを解かい明めいするto clarify or get to the bottom of a mystery
科か学がく者しゃたちがその現げん象しょうの謎なぞを解かい明めいしようとしている。
The scientists are trying to unravel the mystery of that phenomenon.
謎なぞめいた〈物もの〉something enigmatic or mysterious in nature
彼かの女じょは謎なぞめいた笑えみを浮うかべた。
She wore an enigmatic smile.
謎なぞが深ふかまるfor a mystery to deepen
新あたらしい証しょう拠こが出でて、謎なぞがさらに深ふかまった。
New evidence emerged, deepening the mystery even further.

Expressions

謎なぞを解とくsolve a mystery
謎なぞを掛かけるpose a riddle · hint at; drop a hint

Kanji

謎riddle, puzzle, enigma

Related words· 8

不ふ思し議ぎN4sense 1
不思議 highlights a sense of wonder or strangeness, while 謎 focuses on something puzzling that has not been solved.
神しん秘ぴN1sense 1
神秘 suggests a deep, often spiritual or profound mystery, whereas 謎 is more about an intellectual puzzle or unexplained fact.
疑ぎ問もんN3sense 1
疑問 is a specific question or doubt one has, while 謎 is a broader unsolved puzzle or enigma.
ミステリー sense 1
ミステリー is a loanword often used for mystery fiction or dramatic mysteries, while 謎 is the native word used for any kind of puzzle or unsolved question.

Show 4 more

なぞなぞN2
謎 is the broad word for a mystery or puzzle in general, while なぞなぞ refers specifically to a riddle played as a word game.
パズル
パズル refers to a game or puzzle designed to be solved, while 謎 is a mystery or riddle that may or may not be a deliberate game.
不ふ可か解かいN1
謎 is a noun meaning 'riddle' or 'mystery', whereas 不可解 is an adjectival noun that describes something as inexplicable.
怪かい
謎 refers to a puzzle or riddle that could in principle be solved, whereas 怪 emphasizes the uncanny, inexplicable quality of a thing.

Opposites

答こたえN5sense 1
答え is the solution or answer, the opposite of 謎, which is the unsolved question itself.

Don't confuse with

秘ひ密みつN3sense 1
秘密 is information deliberately hidden from others, while 謎 is something inherently unclear or unexplained, not necessarily hidden on purpose.

Word family· 8

なぞなぞN2
riddle; puzzle; enigma
謎なぞい
mystifying; puzzling; baffling
なぞかけ
riddle-telling; posing a riddle
謎なぞめく
be enigmatic; be puzzling; be wrapped in mystery
謎なぞ仕し様よう
confusing set-up; puzzling method

Show 3 more

謎なぞ染ぞめ
riddle-dyeing; dyeing pattern incorporating a riddle
謎なぞ解とき
solving a riddle; solving a mystery
謎なぞめいた
enigmatic; puzzling; mysterious

Written forms

謎なぞUsage92%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
なぞUsage5%
Kana spelling is sometimes used for emphasis or in casual writing, but kanji is preferred.
ナゾUsage3%

Etymology

The kanji 謎 combines 言 (speech) and 迷 (astray, perplex), suggesting a verbal puzzle that leads one astray. The reading なぞ is of native Japanese origin, with uncertain further derivation.