What does it mean word for word?
The word 間抜け is composed of 間 (ma), meaning 'interval' or 'gap' and 抜け (nuke), meaning 'to escape' or 'to slip out'. Literally, it suggests someone who has a 'gap' in their wits or has 'slipped' from common sense.
Which one should you use?
馬鹿 is a common and straightforward term for dimwit. If you want to describe someone as an extremely foolish person or a complete idiot, you can use 超馬鹿. For more aggressive or insulting contexts, バカヤロー can be used to mean 'you idiot' or 'you fool'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
間抜け is an informal and somewhat insulting way to call someone a dimwit or an idiot. In casual settings, such as among friends or during playful banter, the informal term アホ is often used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 間抜け as an adjective to describe a person (for example, 'a dimwitted person'), you must add the particle な to the noun to form 間抜けな.
How do you pronounce it?
manuke
Did you know?
- The term 間抜け originates from the concept of being 'offbeat' in traditional Japanese music and dance, where missing the required pause creates a rhythmic error.
- Calling someone 間抜け often implies they are unable to read the air, a cultural skill called 空気を読む that involves sensing the mood without words.
- Japanese culture distinguishes between types of foolishness, so you might use different words depending on whether a person is naturally slow or just made a single silly mistake.
Examples in context
- あんな間抜けには任せられない。Anna manuke ni wa makasera renai.I can't leave it to such a dimwit.
- 彼は時々、本当に間抜けに見える。Kare wa tokidoki, hontou ni manuke ni mieru.He looks like a real dimwit sometimes.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a coworker's silly mistake.
- 陽葵 Himari彼はまた大きなミスをしたの？Kare wa mata ookina misu o shita no?Did he make a big mistake again?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、本当に間抜けな奴だよ。Un, hontou ni manuke na yatsu da yo.Yeah, he's a real dimwit.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くんも、あんな間抜けにはならないでね。Hiroto-kun mo, anna manuke ni wa naranaide ne.Hiroto, don't be a dimwit like him, okay?
- 大翔 Hirotoわかってるよ、気を付けるよ。Wakatteru yo, ki o tsukeru yo.I know, I'll be careful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 間抜け, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 間抜け, CC BY-SA 4.0.
