ぼんやり

Alternative writings: ボンヤリ
JLPT:N3
Frequency:
1

Dimly; faintly; indistinctly — not clearly seen or defined.

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Irregular VerbOnomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

遠くの山々が朝霧でぼんやり見える。

The distant mountains look faintly visible in the morning mist.

暗くて看板の文字がぼんやりして読めない。

It's so dark the sign's letters are indistinct and I can't read them.

記憶がぼんやりして細かいところを覚えていない。

My memory is vague; I don't remember the details.

2

Absentmindedly; vacantly; in a daze — inattentive or lost in thought.

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Irregular VerbOnomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

彼は授業中にぼんやりしてノートを取っていなかった。

He was daydreaming in class and didn't take notes.

買い物に行って財布を忘れてきたことに、家に着いてからぼんやりと気づいた。

I only absentmindedly realized I had left my wallet at home after getting back.

朝はいつもぼんやりしていて、顔を洗ってからでないと頭がはっきりしない。

I'm always a bit out of it in the morning; my head doesn't clear until I wash my face.

3

Idly; aimlessly — spending time without purpose or energy.

AdverbAdverb Taking 'と'Irregular VerbOnomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

休日は何もせずにテレビを見てぼんやり過ごした。

I spent the day off idly watching TV with nothing else to do.

窓の外をぼんやり眺めて時間だけが過ぎていった。

I just stared out the window absentmindedly as time passed.

4

A person who is absentminded or dull-witted; a blockhead (colloquial).

Noun

Examples

また鍵を忘れたの?本当にぼんやりだね。

You forgot your keys again? You're really absentminded.

先生は彼を少しぼんやりな生徒だと言った。

The teacher said he was a somewhat absentminded student.

Word Relationships