無し

• Reading: なし
• Romaji: nashi
• Kanji breakdown: 無 (mu/bu/na) — nothing, without
• Pronunciation: /na.ɕi/

Meaning

Without; having none; the absence of something.

A noun and suffix meaning 'without' or 'none.' Frequently attached to other nouns to form compound adjectives or expressions: 意味なし (imi nashi, meaningless), 問題なし (mondai nashi, no problem). The more formal written form uses the kanji 無, while hiragana なし is common in casual contexts. Also appears in the set phrase ありなし (ari nashi, with or without).

Examples

1. 砂糖なしのコーヒーが好きだ。 I like coffee without sugar.
2. 今日のテストは問題なしだった。 Today's test went off without a hitch.
3. 経験なしでもこの仕事に応募できますか。 Can I apply for this job even without experience?

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, evaluation, descriptions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 無 represents absence or nothingness, a core concept in Buddhist philosophy. Originally a standalone adjective that evolved into a versatile suffix.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal