無

• Reading: む
• Romaji: mu
• Kanji breakdown: 無 (mu/bu) — nothing, without, non-
• Pronunciation: /mɯ/

Meaning

Nothing; nothingness; naught; zero. The state of non-existence or absence.

A noun and prefix meaning the absence of something. As a standalone concept, it carries deep philosophical weight in Zen Buddhism. As a prefix, it negates the following word: 無理 (unreasonable), 無料 (free of charge), 無限 (infinite). Pronounced む (mu) as a prefix and in most compounds.

Examples

1. 彼は何もないことを無と表現した。 He described the state of having nothing as 'nothingness.
2. 無から有を生み出すのは難しい。 Creating something from nothing is difficult.
3. 禅の修行では無の境地を目指す。 In Zen practice, one aims to reach a state of nothingness.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, Buddhism, abstract concepts

Tone: contemplative

Origin & History

From classical Chinese 無, a fundamental concept in East Asian philosophy meaning non-existence or void. Central to Buddhist and Daoist thought. The kanji depicts a person dancing with sleeves — originally unrelated, used phonetically.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal