荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)

こうとうむけい
adjective-na
absurd, preposterous, nonsensical
1. absurd, preposterous, nonsensical
Describes something that is wildly unrealistic, lacks any basis in fact, or is so far-fetched as to be ridiculous. A four-character compound (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)) used to dismiss ideas, stories, or claims as groundless.
荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)な話(はなし)だ。
That's an absurd story.
その計画(けいかく)は荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)で、誰(だれ)も賛成(さんせい)しなかった。
The plan was preposterous, and nobody agreed with it.
荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)に聞(き)こえるかもしれないが、彼(かれ)の提案(ていあん)には一理(いちり)ある。
It may sound preposterous, but there is some merit to his proposal.

USAGE NOTE:
This is a 四字熟語(よじじゅくご) (four-character compound). 荒唐(こうとう) means wild and unfounded, while 無稽(むけい) means without basis or evidence. Together they emphasize complete groundlessness.

Typically used as a na-adjective modifying nouns (荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)な話(はなし)) or predicatively (荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)だ). It carries a strong dismissive tone.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)な話(はなし) (absurd story)
  • 荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)な主張(しゅちょう) (preposterous claim)
  • 荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)な計画(けいかく) (absurd plan)
  • 荒唐無稽(こうとうむけい)な物語(ものがたり) (nonsensical tale)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ばかげた: ridiculous, silly (more colloquial)
  • 馬鹿馬鹿(ばかばか)しい: absurd, stupid (stronger emotional dismissal)
  • 無茶(むちゃ): unreasonable, reckless (focuses on being impractical)
general
Added 2026.2.28 9:44
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