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不器用な

bukiyou na
adjective★Intermediate
informal

Lacking skill or dexterity; awkward in movement or handling things.

彼女は不器用な性格で、よく物を落としてしまう。

She is clumsy by nature and often drops things.

不器用な彼の料理は、味はあるが見た目は悪い。

His clumsy cooking tastes good but looks bad.

💡

Often used to describe someone who is physically awkward or lacks coordination.

Collocations

不器用な手つきclumsy hands不器用な性格clumsy nature不器用な料理clumsy cooking

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

不器用な人phrase
a clumsy person
不器用な仕事phrase
clumsy work

💡Pro Tip

Self-deprecation

Japanese people often use this word to describe themselves humorously, even if they are not actually clumsy.

⚡Gold Rule

Context matters

This word is usually used in informal contexts and is not typically used in formal or professional settings.

📖Word Origin

Composed of 不 (bu, 'not') + 器用 (kiyō, 'skillful'), literally meaning 'not skillful'.

📝Usage Notes

Often used to describe physical clumsiness rather than intellectual ability. Can be used self-deprecatingly or to describe others.

Word Breakdown

不
not
prefix
+
器用
skillful
root
+
な
adjectival suffix
suffix
和英辞典

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