曖昧
あいまい·aimai
Meaning
vague; ambiguous; unclear; indistinct
Nuance & Usage
曖昧 describes something that is unclear, ambiguous, or deliberately non-committal. 曖昧な返事 (aimai na henji — a vague response) and 曖昧な表現 (aimai na hyougen — ambiguous expression) are typical uses. In cross-cultural communication, 曖昧さ (aimai-sa — vagueness) is often cited as a feature of Japanese communication style — indirect responses that avoid direct refusal. はっきりしない (hakkiri shinai — not clear) is a more casual synonym. 曖昧にする means to make something deliberately vague.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 曖昧 with ぼんやり (bonyari — vague/hazy, used for perceptions or memories) or 不明確 (fumeikaiku — unclear, more formal). 曖昧 specifically implies ambiguity due to lack of clarity in expression or intention. In Japanese business contexts, recognizing a 曖昧な返事 as a soft refusal is crucial — a direct "no" (いいえ) is often avoided. Don't confuse the reading: it's あいまい, not あいめい or あいまえ.
Example Sentences (3)
彼の答えは曖昧で、賛成なのか反対なのかわからなかった。
かれのこたえはあいまいで、さんせいなのかはんたいなのかわからなかった。
His answer was vague — I couldn't tell if he was for or against it.
曖昧な指示では、部下が何をすべきかわかりません。
あいまいなしじでは、ぶかがなにをすべきかわかりません。
With vague instructions, subordinates won't know what they should do.
日本語では、曖昧な表現で断ることがよくある。
にほんごでは、あいまいなひょうげんでことわることがよくある。
In Japanese, it's common to decline using ambiguous expressions.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
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