魅力的でない
miryokuteki de nai
The English phrase "unattractive" is translated into Japanese as 魅力的でない (miryokuteki de nai).
魅力的でない is used to describe someone or something that is not handsome, beautiful or appealing. While it literally means "not attractive," it functions as a relatively soft and indirect way to describe a lack of appeal compared to more blunt insults.
Meaning: not handsome or beautiful or appealing (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase in the polite form, change it to 魅力的ではありません. To express the past tense, "was not attractive," use 魅力的ではなかった.
How do you pronounce it?
miryokuteki de nai
Did you know?
- Japanese speakers often avoid describing people as 'unattractive' directly, preferring to use phrases like 個性的 (koseiteki), which means 'unique' or 'having a strong personality'.
- The root word 魅力 'miryoku' literally combines the characters for 'charm' and 'power'. To be 'attractive' in Japanese is to possess a 'power' that pulls others toward you.
- The suffix 的 'teki' in 魅力的 turns the noun 'charm' into an adjective. This is a linguistic pattern borrowed from Chinese that allows Japanese to create a vast number of descriptive words from nouns.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are looking at a travel brochure.
- 蓮 Renこのホテル、写真で見ると魅力的でないね。Kono hoteru, shashin de miru to miryokuteki denai ne.This hotel looks unattractive in the photos.
- 陽葵 Himariそうだね。別の場所を探そう。Sou da ne. Betsu no basho o sagasou.You're right. Let's look for another place.
- 蓮 Renあっちのプランはどうかな？Acchi no puran wa dou kana?How about that plan over there?
- 陽葵 Himariこっちの方がずっといいと思うよ。Kocchi no hou ga zutto ii to omou yo.I think this one is much better.
