不 and 非 and 無 and 未 usage difference/rule


Is there any rules that govern when to use 不 and 非 and 無 and 未 in regards to
the meaning of "not" or "un-"

for instance 非表示, 不満




It's not that there are rules, it's that the different kanji have different
meanings which can help determine which one is the right choice. You can use
the following definitions as guidelines, but please be aware that there will
be exceptions and differences depending on specific words.

`無【む】` Means "absence" (as in: it was never there).

`未【み】` Means "incomplete" in the sense of not having achieved something (as
in: we still have further to go before we get to the end point).

`不【ふ】` Means "incomplete" in the sense of not yet having reached capacity (as
in: the container is not yet full).

`非【ひ】` Means "error", but when used as a prefix it's more helpful to think of
it as meaning "opposite" (as in: it reverses the meaning of the word).

Hope that helps.




It's not that there are rules, it's that the different kanji have different
meanings which can help determine which one is the right choice. You can use
the following definitions as guidelines, but please be aware that there will
be exceptions and differences depending on specific words.

`無【む】` Means "absence" (as in: it was never there).

`未【み】` Means "incomplete" in the sense of not having achieved something (as
in: we still have further to go before we get to the end point).

`不【ふ】` Means "incomplete" in the sense of not yet having reached capacity (as
in: the container is not yet full).

`非【ひ】` Means "error", but when used as a prefix it's more helpful to think of
it as meaning "opposite" (as in: it reverses the meaning of the word).

Hope that helps.

