謎(なぞ)めいた

なぞめいた
pre-noun adjectival
enigmatic; mysterious
writtenliterarydescriptive
1. enigmatic; mysterious; puzzling
Describes something that has an air of mystery or is hard to understand. Derived from the verb 謎めく (to seem mysterious) in its past/attributive form.
謎(なぞ)めいた笑(え)みを浮(う)かべた。
She wore an enigmatic smile.
彼(かれ)は謎(なぞ)めいた言葉(ことば)を残(のこ)して去(さ)った。
He left behind mysterious words and departed.
その島(しま)には謎(なぞ)めいた遺跡(いせき)がいくつも残(のこ)されている。
Several enigmatic ruins remain on the island.

Usage

Always used before a noun to modify it. Gives a literary or atmospheric quality to descriptions. Common in novels, mystery stories, and evocative writing.

Common collocations

Common patterns

Derived from 謎(なぞ)めく (to seem mysterious, godan verb with the suffix めく). The た form is used as a pre-noun modifier. The base verb 謎(なぞ)めく can also be used predicatively: 何(なに)か謎(なぞ)めいている (there is something mysterious about it).

Related Words

Compare: 不可解(ふかかい) (mysterious)
general
Added 2026.3.6 18:48 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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