The Meaning of fuzai [不在] In Japanese

不在
ふざい
Romaji: fuzai N5

What does 不在 mean?

Translation and Meaning

absence, not present, away

Definition

What does 不在 mean? It denotes the state of not being present at a location or in a situation; used to indicate someone or something is away, unavailable, or not present. In Japanese usage, it appears in business notices, official communications, and signage to describe absence.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Absence of a person from a location or event; used in formal notices and documents
  • Temporary unavailability or being away from a place such as an office or desk; common in corporate communication
  • Labeling on signs or voicemail indicating the subject is not present at the moment

Etymology

Phonetic evolution The two kanji form a Sino-Japanese compound read with on’yomi: 不 contributes a negating sound, 在 contributes a root related to existence; together they yield fuzai, a single-word pronunciation used for the concept of not being present.

Composition

  • 不: negation, ‘not’
  • 在: to exist, be present
  • The combination 不在 directly expresses ‘not present’ in a Sino-Japanese compound

Usage

Used in formal and institutional contexts to state absence: on office doors, meeting notices, and formal correspondence; in everyday conversation, more casual forms such as いない or 留守 are preferred depending on the situation.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture the 不 as a cross-out over 在, literally crossing out presence to remind you that 不在 means not present.

Variations

  • 欠席 (kesseki) — absence from a meeting or event
  • 留守 (rusu) — away from home; common in domestic contexts
  • 出席 (shusseki) — attendance; being present

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 会議中で 大野さんは 不在です が、 私が 代わりに 連絡します。
    Kyou wa kaigi-chuu de Oono-san wa fuzai desu ga, watashi ga kawari ni renraku shimasu.
    Today, during the meeting, Mr./Ms. Ohno is absent, so I will contact you instead.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 会議中で (kaigi-chū de) – during a meeting
    • 大野さんは (Oono-san wa) – Mr./Ms. Ohno (topic)
    • 不在です (fuzai desu) – is absent
    • が、 (ga,) – but,
    • 私が (watashi ga) – I
    • 代わりに (kawarini) – instead
    • 連絡します。 (renraku shimasu.) – will contact
    この文では「不在」は 人が いない 状態を 表す 名詞で、丁寧な 場合に 使われます。
不在