不要な
fuyōna
The English word 'unwanted' can be translated into Japanese as 不要な (fuyōna).
The term is used to describe things that are not wanted or are unnecessary. In formal or administrative settings, it is often combined with the character for objects, resulting in 不要物 to refer to unwanted items or unnecessary goods.
Meaning: not wanted (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 不要 is composed of the character 不 (fu), meaning 'not' and 要 (yō), meaning 'necessary' or 'needed'.
Which one should you use?
While 不要な is a formal, written-style adjective, いらない is the common, conversational way to say something is not wanted.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In western Japan, the informal expression いらん is commonly used instead of 要らない to mean 'don't need' or 'don't want'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 不要な is a na-adjective, which means you must include the particle 'na' when placing it directly before a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
fuyōna
Did you know?
- In Japan, the concept of 'unwanted' items is central to the tradition of mottainai, a feeling of regret when something is wasted. Even if an object is 不要な, it is often seen as a moral duty to find someone who can still use it.
- The character 要 in 不要 is the same character used in the word 'emergency' or 'crucial', meaning the concept of 'unwanted' is linguistically tied to the concept of 'essential'.
- If you are looking for 'unwanted items' in a Japanese recycling center, you might see the term 不燃物, which refers to 'unburnable' unwanted waste rather than just 'unnecessary' items.
Examples in context
- この書類は不要です。This document is unwanted.
- その会議は不必要です。That meeting is unwanted/unnecessary.
- これは要らないよ。I don't want/need this.
- 不要なものは捨ててください。fuyou na mono wa sutete kudasai.Please throw away things that are unwanted.
- これは不要な書類です。kore wa fuyou na shorui desu.This is an unwanted document.
- 不要な広告は無視しましょう。fuyou na koukoku wa mushi shimashou.Let's ignore unwanted advertisements.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are cleaning their room together.
- 蓮 Renこの本はまだ使うかな？kono hon wa mada tsukau kana?I wonder if we still need this book?
- 陽葵 Himariそれはもう不要な本だと思うよ。sore wa mō fuyō na hon da to omou yo.I think that is an unwanted book now.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、ここにまとめておこう。jaa, koko ni matomete okō.Then, let's put them together here.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、後で一緒に捨てようね。un, ato de issho ni suteyō ne.Yeah, let's throw them away together later.
