未読(みどく)

みどく
noun, no-adjective
unread
1. unread
Status indicating that a message, email, or document has not been read yet. Common in digital communication contexts.
未読(みどく)メッセージが100件(けん)ある。
I have 100 unread messages.
未読(みどく)のままにしておいた。
I left it unread.
LINEの未読(みどく)無視(むし)は失礼(しつれい)だと思(おも)う。
I think ignoring LINE messages as unread is rude.

未読(みどく) means "unread" — not yet read. In modern Japanese, it is used primarily in digital communication contexts.

FORMATION:
未(み) (not yet) + 読(どく) (reading). The prefix 未(み)～ is productive: 未定(みてい) (undecided), 未完成(みかんせい) (incomplete).

DIGITAL USAGE:

  • 未読(みどく)メール: unread email
  • 未読(みどく)メッセージ: unread message
  • 未読(みどく)通知(つうち): unread notification
  • 未読(みどく)スルー / 未読(みどく)無視(むし): deliberately leaving messages unread (socially significant in Japan)

TRADITIONAL USAGE:

  • 未読(みどく)本(ほん): unread book
  • 未読(みどく)の論文(ろんぶん): unread paper/article

CONTRAST:

  • 既読(きどく): already read (opposite) — especially known from LINE's 既読(きどく) notification
  • 未読(みどく): not yet read

CULTURAL NOTE:
On LINE, the 既読(きどく) indicator shows when a message has been read, making 未読(みどく)無視(むし) (deliberately not opening a message) a recognized social behavior distinct from 既読(きどく)無視(むし) (reading but not replying).

Related Words

Antonym: 既読(きどく) (read (message status))
general
Added 2026.1.21 9:27 · Revised 2026.4.11 10:25
07500/07733_midoku