頓珍漢

Readings

Kana: とんちんかん、トンチンカン

Romaji: tonchinkan, tonchinkan

Definition

adj-na

noun

1

absurdity; contradiction; incoherence; irrelevance

Note: word usually written using kana alone

Kanji

頓

Readings: トン、 トツ、 にわか.に、 とん.と、 つまず.く、 とみ.に、 ぬかずく

Meanings: suddenly, immediately, in a hurry, arrange, stay in place, bow, kowtow

珍

Readings: チン、 めずら.しい、 たから

Meanings: rare, curious, strange

漢

Reading: カン

Meanings: Sino-, China

Example Sentences

私(わたし)の祖父(そふ)は耳(みみ)が遠(とお)いので、よくトンチンカンな返事(へんじ)をする。

➥My grandfather, being hard of hearing, often makes an irrelevant answer.

先生(せんせい)に急(きゅう)に当(あ)てられて、トンチンカンな答(こた)えをしてしまった。

➥I gave an answer that was way out in left field when the teacher caught me off-guard and called on me.