やみくもに

やみくもに
adverb
blindly; recklessly; indiscriminately; without thinking
1. blindly; recklessly; indiscriminately; without thinking
Describes acting without any plan, forethought, or direction, implying that the approach is unwise and unlikely to produce good results.
やみくもに(はし)()した。
I broke into a blind run.
やみくもに努力(どりょく)しても結果(けっか)()ない。
Effort without direction won't produce results.
情報(じょうほう)(あつ)めずにやみくもに行動(こうどう)すると、かえって状況(じょうきょう)悪化(あっか)させることがある。
Acting recklessly without gathering information can actually make the situation worse.

An adverb meaning to act without plan, thought, or direction — blindly and recklessly. Written in kanji as 闇雲(やみくも)に, combining (やみ) (darkness) and (くも) (cloud), evoking the image of groping blindly through dark clouds.

USAGE:

  • Almost always used with a negative implication — acting this way is unwise
  • Modifies action verbs: やみくもに + verb
  • The na-adjective form やみくもな is also used: やみくもな行動(こうどう) (reckless action)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • やみくもに()(すす)む: to charge ahead blindly
  • やみくもに(しん)じる: to believe blindly
  • やみくもに努力(どりょく)する: to make blind effort
  • やみくもな行動(こうどう): reckless behavior

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • むやみに: recklessly, thoughtlessly — very similar; slightly less vivid
  • めちゃくちゃに: in a completely disorderly way — more extreme and chaotic
  • がむしゃらに: desperately, single-mindedly — implies determined effort rather than aimlessness
  • 盲目的(もうもくてき)に: blindly — more formal; often used for beliefs or loyalty