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Question to Teacher: Why do all dictionaries including YJ say SHIRANAI means strange and all Japanese people say it does not?
Course 3 Lesson 2: みかみせんせい (About This Lesson)

Wes1378

Post Date: 2011-02-11 22:17:55

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I made a video that used the word Shiranai to mean strange, as in odd. People told me that was wrong, so I investigated. I have not been able to find a dictionary that does not say shiranai means strange. I have not been able to find a Japanese person that will admit that they might be correct. I am aware (now) that hen, okashi, or myou would have been better choices, but what gives on the whole shiranai meaning strange deal?

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JFZ_George

Post Date: 2011-02-24 10:05:44

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Interesting question.

This is a classic case of context and words having multiple meanings.

SHIRANAI does not mean "strange" as in "weird". If you look at the definition in the dictionary you will notice the first meaning of the word is listed as "unknown".

In some contexts SHIRANAI could be translated as "strange" but in the sense of being "unknown".

Example:
1. Soto ni shiranai hito ga imashita.
There was a "strange" person outside.

In this case it means "unknown" but contextually "strange" works as a translation also.

There are a few ways to say "strange" meaning "weird" as you stated.

Words that mean "strange, weird":
1.

Hen

Okashii

This shouldn't discourage you!
The dictionary isn't the best teacher, but learning from your mistakes can be VERY effective.