見(み)ず知(し)らず

Common patterns

見(み)ず (not having seen - negative form of 見(み)る)
+ 知(し)らず (not knowing - negative form of 知(し)る)

The classical negative suffix ず creates a formal/literary compound.

• 見(み)ず知(し)らずの + noun (as no-adjective)
• 見(み)ず知(し)らずの人(ひと) - a person one doesn't know
• 見(み)ず知(し)らずの土地(とち) - unfamiliar land

Common collocations

• 見(み)ず知(し)らずの人(ひと) - total stranger (person)
• 見(み)ず知(し)らずの土地(とち)/場所(ばしょ) - unfamiliar place
• 見(み)ず知(し)らずの他人(たにん) - complete stranger

Usage

Can modify both people and places, unlike 赤(あか)の他人(たにん) which only refers to people.

Similar words

• 赤(あか)の他人(たにん) - complete stranger (emphasizes no relationship)
• 知(し)らない人(ひと) - unknown person (simpler)
• 行(ゆ)きずり - passerby, chance encounter
• 初(はじ)めて会(あ)う人(ひと) - person meeting for the first time

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Slightly literary due to classical negative form ず. Natural in both spoken and written Japanese.