頓 珍 漢(とんちんかん)

とんちんかん

noun, na-adjective

nonsensical; irrelevant; off the mark

1. nonsensical; irrelevant; off the mark; absurd

Describes something that is completely off-base, irrelevant, or absurdly wrong. Often used for answers, responses, or behavior that misses the point entirely.

頓珍漢(とんちんかん)な答(こた)えをする。

To give an off-the-mark answer.

彼(かれ)はいつも頓珍漢(とんちんかん)なことを言(い)う。

He always says absurd things.

質問(しつもん)の意味(いみ)を理解(りかい)していないのか、頓珍漢(とんちんかん)な返事(へんじ)ばかりしている。

Maybe he doesn't understand the questions, because he keeps giving completely irrelevant answers.

Describes something absurdly off the mark or irrelevant. Can function as a na-adjective (頓珍漢(とんちんかん)な) or as a noun. The kanji are ateji (phonetic spellings with no semantic connection to the meaning).

Etymology

Said to derive from the alternating sounds of hammers at a blacksmith's forge — when two smiths strike out of rhythm, it sounds like "ton-chin-kan," evoking the idea of being out of sync or off-beat.

Common collocations

頓珍漢(とんちんかん)な答(こた)え: an off-the-mark answer
頓珍漢(とんちんかん)なことを言(い)う: to say nonsensical things
頓珍漢(とんちんかん)な質問(しつもん): an irrelevant question
頓珍漢(とんちんかん)な行動(こうどう): absurd behavior

Similar words

的外(まとはず)れ: off the mark — describes missing the point, less colorful
見当違(けんとうちが)い: barking up the wrong tree — fundamentally misunderstanding the situation
ちぐはぐ: mismatched, inconsistent — things that don't fit together properly

Related Words

Compare: 的外(まとはず)れ (off the mark)

Compare: 見当違(けんとうちが)い (barking up the wrong tree)

Compare: ちぐはぐ (mismatched, inconsistent)

general

Added 2026.3.30 1:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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