匿名
tokumei
The Japanese word for anonymous is 匿名 (tokumei).
匿名 is used to describe something or someone whose name is unknown or has been withheld. To express the concept of 'anonymity' itself, you can use the noun 匿名性. If you wish to express the desire to remain anonymous, you can use the phrase 無名のままにしたい. Additionally, the pronoun 誰か (meaning someone) can be used to indirectly refer to an anonymous individual.
Meaning: of unknown name, whose name is withheld (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 匿名 is composed of the characters 匿, which means to hide or conceal and 名, which means name.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 匿名 as an adjective to modify a noun, you must add the particle の between the word and the noun, forming 匿名の.
How do you pronounce it?
tokumei
Did you know?
- In Japanese gaming or online forums, a person who posts without a name is frequently called a 名無しさん (nanashi-san), adding the polite suffix さん to the concept of 'no name'.
- The character 匿 in 匿名 also appears in the word 隠匿 (intoku), which refers to the legal act of concealing evidence or a criminal to help them evade capture.
- While 匿名 describes the state of being anonymous, the word 無名 (mumei) is often used to describe a person who is 'unknown' or 'unnamed' in terms of fame or reputation.
Examples in context
- 匿名の電話があったんです。We got an anonymous call.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe an anonymous call using 匿名.Tatoeba #11459453 by bunbuku, translation #3313139 by CK
- 「その情報を提供したいのですが、無名のままにしていただけますか？」I would like to provide that information, but could you keep me anonymous?
- 匿名のアカウントを作成した。tokumei no akaunto o sakusei shita.I created an anonymous account.
- その投稿は匿名で行われた。sono toukou wa tokumei de okonawareta.That post was made anonymously.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are discussing an online forum.
- 蓮 Renこの掲示板は匿名が多いね。kono keijiban wa tokumei ga ooi ne.There are many anonymous people on this forum, aren't there?
- 結衣 Yui本当だね。名前がわからないよ。hontou da ne. namae ga wakaranai yo.That's true. I don't know their names.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さんは匿名の方が好き？Yui san wa tokumei no hou ga suki?Do you prefer being anonymous, Yui?
- 結衣 Yui私は実名の方が安心するかな。watashi wa jitsumei no hou ga anshin suru kana.I think I feel more secure using my real name.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
