不詳(ふしょう)

ふしょう
noun, na-adjective
unknown, unidentified
formalwrittendescriptive
1. unknown, unidentified, unascertained
Indicates that information such as a person's identity, date, cause, or details is not known or cannot be confirmed. A formal term used in official records and reports.
作者(さくしゃ)不詳(ふしょう)の絵画(かいが)。
A painting by an unknown artist.
A man of unknown age was found.
原因(げんいん)不詳(ふしょう)の火災(かさい)が発生(はっせい)し、現在(げんざい)調査中(ちょうさちゅう)である。
A fire of unknown origin broke out and is currently under investigation.

A formal, written-register word. Typically placed after the noun it modifies in the pattern 〜不詳(ふしょう) (~ unknown). Common in police reports, medical records, historical documents, and news articles. Unlike 不明(ふめい) (unclear, unknown), which is used more broadly, 不詳(ふしょう) specifically implies that details have not been ascertained or verified.

Common collocations