異 様(いよう)

いよう

na-adjective, noun

bizarre, strange, eerie

1. bizarre, strange, eerie

Noticeably different from what is normal or expected in a way that is unsettling or disturbing. Stronger than simply unusual — implies something feels wrong or off-putting.

異様(いよう)な雰囲気(ふんいき)だった。

The atmosphere was eerie.

彼(かれ)の異様(いよう)な行動(こうどう)にみんな驚(おどろ)いた。

Everyone was startled by his bizarre behavior.

深夜(しんや)の公園(こうえん)から異様(いよう)な音(おと)が聞(き)こえてきて、思(おも)わず足(あし)を止(と)めた。

I heard a strange sound coming from the park late at night and involuntarily stopped in my tracks.

Usage

Used as a na-adjective (異様(いよう)な) to describe things that are strikingly strange or unsettling. Often used to describe atmospheres, appearances, sounds, or behaviors that feel abnormal.

Common collocations

異様(いよう)な雰囲気(ふんいき) (eerie atmosphere)
異様(いよう)な光景(こうけい) (bizarre sight)
異様(いよう)に静(しず)か (eerily quiet)
異様(いよう)な臭(にお)い (strange smell)

Similar words

奇妙(きみょう): strange, odd (intellectual curiosity, less threatening)
不気味(ぶきみ): creepy, eerie (specifically unsettling or frightening)
変(へん): strange, weird (casual, milder)

Related Words

Related: 奇妙(きみょう) (strange, odd)

Compare: 不気味(ぶきみ) (creepy, eerie)

Compare: 変(へん) (strange, weird)

Compare: 異質(いしつ) (heterogeneous, different in nature)

Compare: 奇異(きい) (strange, bizarre, peculiar)

general

Added 2026.2.25 23:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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