ぼんやり

ぼんやり
adverb / na-adjective / suru-verb
vaguely, absent-mindedly
1. vaguely, dimly
Not clearly; indistinctly.
ぼんやり()える。
It looks dim.
(とお)くの(やま)がぼんやり()える。
The distant mountains can be seen dimly.
(きり)景色(けしき)がぼんやりしている。
The scenery looks hazy because of the fog.
2. absent-mindedly, in a daze
Without focus or attention; spacing out.
ぼんやりと(まど)(そと)()ていた。
I was gazing absent-mindedly out the window.
ぼんやりしていて電車(でんしゃ)()()ごした。
I was spacing out and missed my train stop.
(やす)みの()(なに)もしないでぼんやり()ごした。
I spent my day off doing nothing, just idling away.

An onomatopoeic word with multiple related uses.

PATTERNS:

  • ぼんやり(と)する (to space out, to be vague)
  • ぼんやり(と)()える (to be dimly visible)
  • ぼんやりした + noun (vague, hazy)

COMMON USES:

  • ぼんやりした記憶(きおく) (vague memory)
  • ぼんやりした輪郭(りんかく) (blurry outline)
  • ぼんやり()ごす (to spend time idly)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • うっかり - carelessly (implies a mistake)
  • ぼんやり - absent-mindedly (implies lack of focus)
  • ぼーっと - spaced out, zoning out