Translation guide
A person who is clumsy, incompetent, or habitually makes mistakes, especially in practical tasks.
He's a bungler; he often breaks things.
Refers to someone who makes careless mistakes or blunders. 'へま' means a blunder or slip-up.
That bungler ruined the plan.
Casual term for someone who is clumsy or makes silly mistakes. 'ドジ' implies a foolish error.
She's a bungler, always tripping over.
Means 'incompetent person'. Stronger and more negative; implies a lack of ability rather than just clumsiness.
He's a bungler, so I can't trust him with important work.
Focusing on a person who botches a particular job or activity, often due to carelessness or lack of skill.
Literally 'failure person'. Used for someone who fails at a task or endeavor. Can be harsh.
He's a bungler again; he messed up this project too.
Means 'person who messes up doing something'. Emphasizes the act of botching.
Slang for a bungler or someone who is bad at something. Often used in a self-deprecating or teasing way.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'bungler'. Instead, describe the person's clumsiness or incompetence using adjectives like 不器用な or へまな, or use phrases like 失敗ばかりする人 (a person who always fails).
不器用 (bukiyou) is the standard word for clumsiness, often physical. へま (hema) implies a careless blunder. ドジ (doji) is casual and suggests a silly mistake. Choose based on the nuance and formality.
Using a knife with clumsy hands.
I made a blunder and lost the documents.
I goofed and spilled the coffee.
He's a bungler; when he cooks, the kitchen becomes a disaster.
I'm a bungler, so I always lose at games.