<p>As many others have said, 暧昧 can be used in different occasions, which calls for different word to express the precise meaning in each occasion.</p>

<p>there's the romantic 暧昧 when you describe a <strong>relationship</strong>, which I would translate to something to the effect of "there's a <strong>thing</strong> between them".</p>

<p>when you talk about someone's attitude is 暧昧, you mean they are being <strong>indirect, noncommittal, giving mixed signals, hesitating to express their opinions.</strong> You would choose the one that fits the situation.</p>

<p>I think in general when you have a word that doesn't have a direct, 100% corresponding word, it most likely falls to your subjective judgement. And sometimes you simply don't have sufficient information or context to translate it, 暧昧 can be one of such word, for those occasions you would try your best and note what word is being used originally or ask for clarification.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-06T20:28:04.860Z
2015-12-06T20:28:04.860Z
Zuoanqh
<p>曖昧 = ambiguous romantic relationship</p>

<p>This phrase is in reference to a romantic relationship. Its usually from outsiders commenting on the relationship between a guy and a girl who are friends but may be more than that. </p>

<p>You can kind of thinks about it as the sort of weird stage before you've had the DTR (determine-the-relationship) conversation. If you don't have that convo, then you may be perpetually 曖昧. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-02T10:16:11.273Z
2015-12-02T10:16:11.273Z
BMak
<p><strong>Guifan</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>形 (态度､用意)不明朗; (行为)不光明正大</p>
<p>态度暧昧 ｜关系暧昧。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In English I think we would call this <strong>flirtatious</strong>.</p>
<p>Like: 跟别人暧昧 would just simply mean to flirt with somebody.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-02T08:17:48.037Z
2015-12-02T08:17:48.037Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Mou某
<p>I found there is no exact word to translate this phrase. Is there a way to describe this status?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-02T06:32:19.937Z
Oh.. @MaulikV then where should I post these kind of question? Most of the translation doesn't seems to be close enough to me.
haudoing
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-02T07:48:43.117Z
see iciba，dict。cn，dict。all，bkrs，etc，jukuu has over １００ example sentences
user6065
<translation>
How to translate "曖昧" into English?
# How to translate "曖昧" into English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-02)

I found there is no exact word to translate this phrase. Is there a way to describe this status?

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Oh.. @MaulikV then where should I post these kind of question? Most of the translation doesn't seems to be close enough to me.  
> **username_1**: see iciba，dict。cn，dict。all，bkrs，etc，jukuu has over １００ example sentences  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-12-06. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

As many others have said, 暧昧 can be used in different occasions, which calls for different word to express the precise meaning in each occasion.

there's the romantic 暧昧 when you describe a **relationship**, which I would translate to something to the effect of "there's a **thing** between them".

when you talk about someone's attitude is 暧昧, you mean they are being **indirect, noncommittal, giving mixed signals, hesitating to express their opinions.** You would choose the one that fits the situation.

I think in general when you have a word that doesn't have a direct, 100% corresponding word, it most likely falls to your subjective judgement. And sometimes you simply don't have sufficient information or context to translate it, 暧昧 can be one of such word, for those occasions you would try your best and note what word is being used originally or ask for clarification.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-12-02. Score: 2

曖昧 = ambiguous romantic relationship

This phrase is in reference to a romantic relationship. Its usually from outsiders commenting on the relationship between a guy and a girl who are friends but may be more than that.

You can kind of thinks about it as the sort of weird stage before you've had the DTR (determine-the-relationship) conversation. If you don't have that convo, then you may be perpetually 曖昧.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-12-02. Score: 0

**Guifan**

> 形 (态度､用意)不明朗; (行为)不光明正大
>
> 态度暧昧 ｜关系暧昧。

In English I think we would call this **flirtatious**.

Like: 跟别人暧昧 would just simply mean to flirt with somebody.


---

