{"id":62732,"date":"2018-10-12T15:16:47","date_gmt":"2018-10-12T06:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/aiueo-mu-muri\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T02:57:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:57:59","slug":"aiueo-mu-muri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/ja\/aiueo-mu-muri\/","title":{"rendered":"Mu (\u3080): Meaning of Muri \u7121\u7406 (\u3080\u308a) in Japanese"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is \u7121\u7406 (Muri)?<\/a>
\u7121 (Mu) as a Prefix<\/a>
Other uses of \u7121 (Mu)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is the meaning of \u7121\u7406 (Muri)?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Muri, put simply, can be translated into English as “Impossible \u7121\u7406 (mu-ri)”. The typical antonym for Muri would typically be “Infinite possibilities \u7121\u9650\u5927\u306e\u53ef\u80fd\u6027 (mu-gendai-no-kanousei)”
Have you ever heard someone say “that’s impossible \u7121\u7406\u3067\u3059 (mu-ri desu)?”
For example,
“Why not try making a presentation in Japanese?”
“Ah, that’s still impossible for me!” \u307e\u3060\u7121\u7406\u3067\u3059\u3088 (mada mu-ri desu yo)
“Have you thought about running the Tokyo Marathon?”
“Eh? Impossible, impossible!” \u7121\u7406\u3001\u7121\u7406 (mu-ri, mu-ri)
“Try eating this.”
“Eh? What’s this? That’s seriously impossible for me.” \u30de\u30b8\u3067\u7121\u7406 (maji de mu-ri)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u7121 (Mu) as a Prefix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many words come with prefixes like \u7121 (mu) “im”, as well as “in” and “un.”
These prefixes \u7121 (mu) also carry the meaning of “There is no _____.”
Some examples include Impossible \u7121\u7406 (mu-ri), indifferent \u7121\u95a2\u5fc3 (mu-kanshin), inactive \u7121\u6c17\u529b (mu-kiryoku), insensitive \u7121\u795e\u7d4c (mu-shinkei), unplanned \u7121\u8a08\u753b\uff08mu-keikaku\uff09, undependable \u7121\u8cac\u4efb (mu-sekinin), inhumane \u7121\u6148\u60b2 (mu-jihi)…
Aren’t there a lot of negative words!?
But there are also many words without negative connotations, such as innocent\u7121\u90aa\u6c17 (mu-jyaki), invincible \u7121\u6575 (mu-teki), unselfish \u7121\u6b32 (mu-yoku), and undefeated \u7121\u6557 (mu-hai).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Other uses of \u7121 (Mu)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There’s just so many other words out there beyond just “impossible \u7121\u7406 (mu-ri),” aren’t there?
Among these words that use the prefix comes another word, and that is “infinite \u7121\u9650 (mu-gen).”
Perhaps you have thought “I want to try that, but I’m worried about whether I can do it. It might be impossible \u7121\u7406\u304b\u3082 (mu-ri kamo)?”
For example:
I want to start a new job\/learn to play the guitar\/run a full marathon\/challenge myself to the N1 examination.
Is it really impossible?
When you think “it might be impossible”, it makes it difficult for you to take the first step.
You might end up giving up while you are putting it off.
If you do not try and do it, you will never know whether you can.
If you are hesitating, why not try using the word “infinite \u7121\u9650 (mu-gen)” instead of “impossible \u7121\u7406 (mu-ri)?”
Tell yourself that you possess infinite possibilities and challenge yourself to the task.
Even if it does not go well, it is sure to be a good experience and learning opportunity. Ah, there is one last good word that uses “un \u7121 (mu)!”
“Unpaid \u7121\u6599 (mu-ryou)” \u2013 free \ud83d\ude00
There is an expression that says “Nothing costs more than something that’s free \u305f\u3060\u3088\u308a\u9ad8\u3044\u3082\u306e\u306f\u306a (tada yori takai mono wa nai),” but I have never had a bad experience getting something for free.
How about you?
Do you want to learn more practical Japanese?\u00a0 Check out our intensive courses by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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