頭がよくない
atama ga yokunai
The English phrase 'not smart' is expressed in Japanese as 頭がよくない (atama ga yokunai).
This phrase is used to describe someone who lacks intelligence or mental ability.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 頭 (atama, head), が (ga, subject marker) and よくない (yokunai, the negative form of good), which literally means 'head is not good'.
Which one should you use?
While 頭がよくない is a way to say 'not smart', the more direct and blunt form 頭が悪い is often used to mean 'stupid' or 'dumb'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
頭がよくない is a polite way to say 'not smart'. For use with strangers or superiors, you can use the formal version 頭がよくありません.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase more polite, you can use the formal negative form よくありません instead of よくない.
How do you pronounce it?
atama ga yokunai
Did you know?
- To avoid the bluntness of 頭が悪い, Japanese speakers often use 'understatement' by saying あまり頭が回転していない (amari atama ga kaiten shite inai), which literally means 'the head is not rotating very much'.
- While 頭がよくない is a polite negation, Japanese people may use the word 天然 (tennen), meaning 'natural', as a slang term for someone who is airheaded or unintentionally 'not smart'.
- Japanese speakers often use the term 抜けている (nukete iru), which literally means 'to be missing something' or 'to have a hole', to describe someone who is a bit airheaded or clumsy in a charming way.
Examples in context
- 彼はあまり頭がよくない。Kare wa amari atama ga yokunai.He is not very smart.
- 自分は頭がよくないと思う。Jibun wa atama ga yokunai to omou.I think I am not smart.
- あの人は頭がよくないのかもしれない。Ano hito wa atama ga yokunai no kamo shirenai.That person might not be smart.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a difficult math test.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くんは、数学が苦手なの？Youta-kun wa, suugaku ga nigate nano?Youta, are you bad at math?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、僕は頭がよくないから。Un, boku wa atama ga yokunai kara.Yeah, because I'm not smart.
- 美咲 Misakiそんなことないよ、努力してるじゃない。Sonna koto nai yo, doryoku shiteru janai.That's not true, you're working hard.
- 陽太 Yota美咲ちゃんは、いつも優秀だね。Misaki-chan wa, itsumo yuushuu dane.Misaki, you are always excellent.
