無我(むが)

むが
noun
selflessness; no-self (Buddhist); self-forgetfulness
formalabstractculture
1. selflessness; absorbed state; self-forgetfulness
Being so absorbed in an activity or emotion that one forgets oneself. Most commonly seen in the set phrase 無我夢中(むがむちゅう).
無我(むが)の境地(きょうち)。
A state of selflessness.
無我夢中(むがむちゅう)で走(はし)った。
I ran in a self-forgetful frenzy.
演奏(えんそう)中(ちゅう)は無我(むが)になって時間(じかん)を忘(わす)れていた。
While performing, I lost myself and forgot the time.
2. no-self (Buddhist concept of anātman)
The Buddhist doctrine that there is no permanent, independent self — one of the three marks of existence. Used in Buddhist and philosophical contexts.
仏教(ぶっきょう)の無我(むが)の思想(しそう)。
The Buddhist concept of no-self.
釈迦(しゃか)は無我(むが)を説(と)いた。
Shakyamuni taught the doctrine of no-self.
無我(むが)の教(おし)えは執着(しゅうちゃく)からの解放(かいほう)を目指(めざ)す考(かんが)え方(かた)だ。
The teaching of no-self aims at liberation from attachment.

Composed of 無(む) (without) + 我(が) (self, ego). In daily Japanese the everyday sense (self-forgetful absorption) is far more common than the Buddhist doctrinal sense.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 夢中(むちゅう): absorbed; engrossed — everyday word for being absorbed in something
  • 無心(むしん): free of distractions; innocent — emphasizes a mind clear of thought
  • 忘我(ぼうが): self-forgetfulness; ecstasy — literary; emphasizes losing oneself in emotion

Related Words

Compare: 夢中(むちゅう) (absorbed)
Compare: 無心(むしん) (free of distractions)
general
Added 2026.6.8 13:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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