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無知無学
muchimugaku
utterly ignorant
彼は無知無学な人間で、何事にも興味を示さない。
He's an utterly ignorant person who shows no interest in anything.
formal
Completely lacking in both knowledge and learning; profoundly ignorant.
無知無学な政治家が政策を立案するのは危険だ。
It's dangerous for an utterly ignorant politician to draft policies.
Often used to criticize someone's lack of intellectual capacity or educational background. More severe than just '無知' (ignorant).
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing in daily speech
This word is highly formal and rarely used in everyday Japanese. In casual contexts, prefer '無知' (muji) or '知識がない' (chishiki ga nai).
Gold Rule
Use for severe ignorance, not general lack of knowledge
Do not use '無知無学' for someone who simply lacks expertise in a specific field. Reserve it for cases where the person is ignorant across multiple domains of knowledge and education.
Word Origin
Combines '無知' (muchi, ignorance) and '無学' (mugaku, lack of learning). Both are classical Chinese-derived compounds using the negative prefix '無' (mu, without) + '知' (chi, knowledge) or '学' (gaku, learning). The compound emphasizes extreme ignorance in both practical knowledge and formal education.
Usage Notes
This term is rarely used in casual conversation; it carries a strong, formal tone often associated with literary or philosophical contexts. Avoid using it to describe yourself—it may sound arrogant or overly self-deprecating.
Word Breakdown
無知
ignorance
compound無学
lack of learning
compound和英辞典