不快
fukai[ɸɯ̟ka̠i]
The English word 'unpleasant' can be translated into Japanese as 不快 (fukai), meaning 'unpleasant'.
不快 is used to indicate a state of being uncomfortable, displeased or feeling unpleasant.
Meaning: not pleasant (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 不 (not/un-) and 快 (pleasant/comfortable).
Which one should you use?
While 不快 is a formal, clinical or objective term for 'unpleasant', the much more common and colloquial way to express that something is disagreeable or 'gross' is to use 嫌な. Additionally, if you wish to describe something as troublesome, bothersome or difficult to deal with, you should use 厄介.
How do you pronounce it?
fukai
Did you know?
- The colloquial alternative 嫌な comes from the verb 嫌う, meaning 'to hate' or 'to dislike', making it much stronger than the neutral 不快.
- In Japanese weather reports, the term 不快指数 describes the 'discomfort index', a calculated value based on temperature and humidity that predicts how 'unpleasant' the air feels.
- In formal settings, Japanese speakers often avoid using 不快 directly to a person to prevent conflict, instead using vague phrases like 気になります to imply something is 'bothering' them.
Examples in context
- 外は不快な湿度ですね。The humidity outside is unpleasant, isn't it?
- 昨日の授業はうざかったよ。Yesterday's class was unpleasant/annoying.
- それは本当に厄介だった。That was truly unpleasant/troublesome.
- このニオイは本当に不快だ。Kono nioi wa hontou ni fukai da.This smell is truly unpleasant.
- 不快な音で目が覚めた。Fukai na oto de me ga sameta.I woke up to an unpleasant sound.
- 彼の態度はとても不快でした。Kare no taido wa totemo fukai deshita.His attitude was very unpleasant.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a recent dining experience.
- 陽太 Yotaあのお店、店員の態度が不快じゃなかった？Ano omise, ten'in no taido ga fukai janakatta?Wasn't the waiter's attitude at that shop unpleasant?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、すごく不快だったよ。Un, sugoku fukai datta yo.Yeah, it was very unpleasant.
- 陽太 Yota結衣もそう思った？Yui mo sou omotta?Did you think so too, Yui?
- 結衣 Yui当たり前だよ、陽太。Atarimae da yo, Youta.Of course I did, Youta.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 不快, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
