How to Say "Not Interested" in Japanese

興味がない

kyōmi ga nai

The English phrase "not interested" is expressed in Japanese as 興味がない (kyōmi ga nai).

This phrase is used to express that someone does not have a feeling of curiosity or interest in a particular topic, object or activity.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of 興味 (kyōmi), meaning 'interest' and がない (ga nai), meaning 'does not exist'.

kyōmi ga nai

The natural way to express a state of being uninterested is 興味がない.

The word 興味 (kyōmi) is used in the phrase 興味津々 (kyōmi shinshin) to describe someone who is overflowing with curiosity. The characters for 'shin' literally mean 'dripping' or 'oozing'.
In social situations, Japanese speakers rarely say 興味がない directly to someone's face. Instead, they use vague phrases like ちょっと (chotto) to imply lack of interest without causing loss of face.
In Japanese, the word 興味 (kyōmi) uses the kanji for 'interest', but it is composed of characters that literally mean 'strange' or 'extraordinary' and 'thought'.

全くもって興味がないの。
I'm not interested at all.
This sentence is useful for emphasizing a total lack of interest using the form 興味がない.
Tatoeba #9696150 by small_snow, translation #6765587 by CK
トムは興味がないんだって。
Tom says he's not interested.
This sentence is useful for reporting someone else's lack of interest using the form 興味がない.
Tatoeba #8877758 by bunbuku, translation #2276378 by CK
歴史には全く興味がないんだ。
I'm really not interested in history.
This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of interest in a specific subject using the form 興味がない.
Tatoeba #11459582 by bunbuku, translation #2539445 by CK
このお仕事にご興味ありませんか？
Are you interested in this job?
申し訳ありませんが、私は興味ありません。
I'm sorry, but I'm not interested.
うーん、ちょっとなぁ。今日は他の予定があるんだ。
Hmm, I'm not sure. I have other plans today.
4 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are talking about a new hobby in a cafe.

大翔 Hiroto

結衣はキャンプに興味がある？
Yui wa kyanpu ni kyoumi ga aru?
Yui, are you interested in camping?
結衣 Yui

うーん、あまり興味がないかな。
Uun, amari kyoumi ga nai kana.
Hmm, I'm not really interested.
大翔 Hiroto

そうなんだ。じゃあ、映画はどう？
Sou nanda. Jaa, eiga wa dou?
I see. Then, how about movies?
結衣 Yui

映画なら、すごく興味があるよ！
Eiga nara, sugoku kyoumi ga aru yo!
If it's movies, I'm very interested!

Sources

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