不明確(ふめいかく)

Formed with the negative prefix 不(ふ) and 明確(めいかく) ('clear; definite'). A straightforward negation meaning 'not clear' or 'not definite.' Common in formal writing, business communication, and academic contexts where precision matters.

Usage

• Frequently modifies abstract nouns: 基準(きじゅん) ('criteria'), 境界(きょうかい) ('boundary'), 定義(ていぎ) ('definition'), 方針(ほうしん) ('policy').
• In business Japanese, pointing out that something is 不明確(ふめいかく) is a diplomatic way of requesting clarification without directly criticizing.
• Functions as a na-adjective: 不明確(ふめいかく)な点(てん) ('unclear points'), 不明確(ふめいかく)である ('is unclear').

Common collocations

• 不明確(ふめいかく)な点(てん): unclear points
• 不明確(ふめいかく)な表現(ひょうげん): ambiguous expression
• 不明確(ふめいかく)な基準(きじゅん): unclear criteria
• 境界(きょうかい)が不明確(ふめいかく): the boundary is unclear

Similar words

• 曖昧(あいまい): ambiguous; vague — emphasizes deliberate or inherent fuzziness rather than simple lack of clarity
• 不明(ふめい): unknown; unclear — broader term that can mean 'identity unknown' or 'cause unclear'
• 明確(めいかく): clear; definite — the direct antonym
• 漠然(ばくぜん): vague; hazy — describes an even more diffuse, unfocused quality