変(へん)

へん

na-adjective

strange, odd, weird

descriptive

1. strange, odd, weird

Unusual or unexpected in a way that causes surprise or unease.

変(へん)な音(おと)がする。

There's a strange sound.

このスープは変(へん)な味(あじ)がする。

This soup tastes weird.

何(なに)か変(へん)ですか。

Is something wrong/strange?

最近(さいきん)、彼(かれ)は変(へん)な行動(こうどう)をとるようになった。

Lately, he's started acting strangely.

変(へん)な人(ひと)がついてきた。

A strange person followed me.

変(へん)なにおいがする。

There's a strange smell.

2. wrong, unusual

Not normal or correct; something that seems off.

何(なに)か変(へん)ですか。

Is something wrong/strange?

変(へん)だな、さっきまでここにあったのに。誰(だれ)か持(も)っていったのかな。

That's strange—it was here just a moment ago. I wonder if someone took it.

体調(たいちょう)が変(へん)だから病院(びょういん)に行(い)く。

I feel off, so I'm going to the hospital.

この機械(きかい)、動(うご)きが変(へん)だ。

This machine is acting weird.

天気(てんき)が変(へん)だね。

The weather is strange, isn't it?

変(へん) is a na-adjective meaning strange or odd.

Forms

変(へん)な + noun: strange (attributive)
変(へん)だ/です: is strange (predicate)
変(へん)に: strangely (adverb)

Common patterns

変(へん)な音(おと): strange sound
変(へん)な味(あじ): weird taste
変(へん)だな: That's strange (casual reflection)
何(なに)か変(へん): something is off

Talking about people

変(へん)な人(ひと) is not a mild word. It suggests someone unsettling or creepy rather than merely unusual, and saying it to or about someone present is rude. For harmless eccentricity, Japanese uses 変(か)わっている (he's a bit different / one of a kind), which can even be affectionate.

Nearby words

おかしい: also 'off, not right', and the usual word for a machine or a body not working properly (調子(ちょうし)がおかしい). It additionally means 'funny, amusing', which 変(へん) never does.
奇妙(きみょう): stiffer and more written; describes something curiously strange rather than merely wrong.
不思議(ふしぎ): strange in an interesting, wonder-provoking way. 変(へん) carries unease; 不思議(ふしぎ) carries curiosity.
Opposite: 普通(ふつう) (ordinary, normal).