不親切
fushinsetsu
The Japanese word for unkind is 不親切 (fushinsetsu).
不親切 is used to describe someone or something that is unkind. While the English word can sometimes imply cruelty, in Japanese, 不親切 often carries the nuance of being unfriendly or lacking in hospitality and kindness.
Meaning: cruel (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed using the prefix 不 (fu), which is used to create a negative meaning similar to the English prefix 'un-'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use 不親切 to modify a noun, you must use the form 不親切な (fushinsetsu na).
How do you pronounce it?
fushinsetsu
Did you know?
- Depending on the context, 不親切 can describe a poorly designed user interface or a confusing map. In these cases, it means the design is 'unkind' to the user's needs.
- The character 親 in 不親切 originally depicted a parent holding a child. It captures the idea that kindness is fundamentally linked to the warmth of a familial bond.
- In Japanese, the concept of being 'unkind' is sometimes expressed through the word 冷たい (tsumetai), which literally means 'cold' to the touch.
Examples in context
- 親切な人もいたし不親切な人もいた。Some people were kind and others were unkind.This sentence is useful for contrasting kind people with people who are 不親切.Tatoeba #144790 by KK_kaku_, translation #269774 by CM
- 彼女の不親切な言葉に傷ついた。I was hurt by her unkind words.
- 彼の意地悪な冗談は誰も笑わなかった。Nobody laughed at his unkind joke.
- ひどいことを言わないでください！Please don't say unkind things!
- 店員さんの態度が不親切だった。Tenin-san no taido ga fushinsetsu datta.The shop assistant's attitude was unkind.
- 彼は少し不親切な人だ。Kare wa sukoshi fushinsetsu na hito da.He is a slightly unkind person.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a recent experience at a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himariあのカフェの店員、不親切じゃなかった？Ano kafe no tenin, fushinsetsu janakatta?Wasn't that cafe clerk unkind?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、すごく不親切に感じたよ。Un, sugoku fushinsetsu ni kanjita yo.Yeah, I felt they were very unkind.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔もそう思った？Hiroto mo sou omotta?Did you think so too, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね、あんな態度は嫌だな。Sou da ne, anna taido wa iya da na.I agree, I hate that kind of attitude.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
