Japanese symbol for “futile”
無用
むよう
Romaji: muyou
useless; futile
In Japanese, futile is 無用, read むよう (muyou).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- adj-na, n useless; futile
- adj-na, n unnecessary; needless
- adj-na, n not on business; unrelated; unauthorised; unauthorized
- adj-na, n prohibited; banned; forbidden
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “futile”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 無益 | むえき mueki | useless; futile; vain |
| 徒 | あだ ada | vain; futile; transient |
| 虚しい | むなしい munashii | vain; fruitless; futile |
| 賽の河原 | さいのかわら sainokawara | futile; unrewarding |
| 不彀本 | ポコペン pokopen | impossible; futile |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 無料 | むりょう muryou | free (of charge); gratuitous |
| 無理 | むり muri | unreasonable; unnatural; unjustifiable |
| 無事 | ぶじ buji | safety; security; peace |
| 無駄 | むだ muda | futility; waste; uselessness |
| 無線 | むせん musen | radio (communication) |
| 無理やり | むりやり muriyari | forcibly; by force; against one's will |
| 使用 | しよう shiyou | use; application; employment |
| 利用 | りよう riyou | use; utilization; utilisation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “futile”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.