気まずい
kimazui[kʲima̠zɨi]
The Japanese word for awkward is 気まずい (kimazui), used when someone lacks social skills or feels uncomfortable with social interaction.
If you want to specifically describe an 'awkward silence' in a social setting, the standard phrase is 気まずい沈黙.
Meaning: lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 気まずい is used for social discomfort, the term 不自然 can be used to describe something that feels unnatural or awkward. For a much stronger, slang-based sense of discomfort that borders on disgust, one might use キモい.
How do you pronounce it?
kimazui
Did you know?
- The word 気まずい is a compound of 気, meaning 'spirit' or 'energy', and まずい, which usually means 'bad tasting'.
- Japanese culture places a high value on 空気を読む, or 'reading the air'. A person who is 気まずい is often seen as someone failing to read the invisible social atmosphere.
- Unlike the English 'awkward', which can describe a clumsy physical movement, 気まずい is strictly used for psychological or social tension and cannot describe a trip or fall.
Examples in context
- トムは気まずいみたいだ。Tom looks awkward.This sentence shows how to use 気まずい to describe how someone looks.Tatoeba #7844799 by Ninja, translation #2237207 by CK
- 彼が現れると気まずい沈黙が広がった。There was an awkward silence when he appeared.This sentence demonstrates the use of 気まずい to describe a silence.Tatoeba #120422 by bunbuku, translation #283587 by CM
- この会話は不自然ですThis conversation feels awkward.
- 彼の態度がぎこちなかったHis attitude was awkward.
- この状況は気まずいですねThis situation is awkward, isn't it?
- あの冗談は気まずかったThat joke was awkward.
- 久しぶりに会うと、少し気まずい。Hisashiburi ni au to, sukoshi kimazui.When meeting after a long time, it is a bit awkward.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are standing alone together after a fight between their friends.
- 陽太 Yotaなんか、すごく気まずいな。Nanka, sugoku kimazui na.It's kind of really awkward, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当だね。どうすればいいんだろう。Hontou da ne. Dou sureba ii n darou.It really is. I wonder what we should do.
- 陽太 Yota誰か来てくれたら助かるのに。Dareka kite kuretara tasukaru no ni.It would help if someone came over.
- 陽葵 Himari私もそう思うよ。Watashi mo sou omou yo.I think so too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 気まずい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 気まずい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
