迷宮(めいきゅう)

めいきゅう
noun
labyrinth; maze; dead-end (of an investigation)
building
1. labyrinth; maze
A complex structure of interconnecting passages that is difficult to navigate, whether real or fictional.
地下(ちか)の迷宮(めいきゅう)を探検(たんけん)する。
To explore an underground labyrinth.
このダンジョンは巨大(きょだい)な迷宮(めいきゅう)になっている。
This dungeon is an enormous maze.
ギリシャ神話(しんわ)のクレタ島(とう)の迷宮(めいきゅう)には恐(おそ)ろしいミノタウロスが住(す)んでいたとされる。
According to Greek mythology, the fearsome Minotaur dwelled in the labyrinth on the island of Crete.
2. dead-end case; unsolvable mystery
Figuratively, a situation — especially a criminal investigation — that has become so complicated it seems impossible to solve. Used in the expression 迷宮入り.
この事件(じけん)は迷宮入(めいきゅうい)りした。
This case went cold.
手(て)がかりがなく、捜査(そうさ)は迷宮(めいきゅう)に入(はい)った。
With no leads, the investigation hit a dead end.
発生(はっせい)から二十年(にじゅうねん)が経(た)ち、迷宮入(めいきゅうい)りしていた殺人事件(さつじんじけん)にようやく進展(しんてん)があった。
Twenty years after the crime occurred, there was finally progress in the murder case that had gone cold.

Compound of 迷(めい) (to be lost) + 宮(きゅう) (palace, building).

Key expression

迷宮入(めいきゅうい)り — when a criminal case goes cold or becomes unsolvable. This is one of the most common uses in news and detective fiction.

Common collocations

  • 迷宮入(めいきゅうい)りする (to go cold, become unsolvable)
  • 迷宮(めいきゅう)のような (labyrinthine)
  • 迷宮(めいきゅう)を彷徨(さまよ)う (to wander a maze)

Usage

In gaming and fantasy contexts, 迷宮(めいきゅう) is commonly used for "dungeon" or "labyrinth." In crime reporting, 迷宮入(めいきゅうい)り is the standard term for a cold case.

general
Added 2026.2.28 21:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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