Translation guide
The quality of being uninteresting, lacking sharpness, or not bright. This guide covers how to express dullness in various contexts, from boring experiences to blunt objects and muted colors.
Describing something that lacks excitement or interest, such as a person, event, or activity.
The most common word for 'boring' or 'dull' in the sense of lacking interest. Can be used as a noun or na-adjective.
この映画は退屈だった。
This movie was dull.
彼の話は退屈で眠くなった。
His story was so dull I got sleepy.
A very common i-adjective meaning 'boring', 'dull', or 'uninteresting'. Slightly more casual than 退屈.
その本はつまらなかった。
That book was dull.
つまらない会議だった。
It was a dull meeting.
Literally 'not interesting', a straightforward way to say something is dull. The negative form of 面白い (interesting).
このゲームは面白くない。
This game is dull.
A formal, literary term meaning 'dry and tasteless', used for something utterly dull and lifeless.
無味乾燥な講義だった。
It was a dry and dull lecture.
Describing a blade, point, or edge that is not sharp.
An i-adjective meaning 'dull', 'blunt', or 'slow'. Used for knives, senses, and also for slow-witted people.
この包丁は鈍い。
This kitchen knife is dull.
彼は鈍い音を聞いた。
He heard a dull thud.
A phrase meaning 'the cutting quality is bad', i.e., the blade is dull. More descriptive than 鈍い.
このナイフは切れ味が悪い。
This knife is dull.
A somewhat old-fashioned or colloquial term for a blunt sword or knife, also used metaphorically for a useless person.
Describing colors, light, or surfaces that are not vivid or shiny.
The past tense of くすむ, used as an adjective meaning 'dull', 'lackluster', or 'faded'. Commonly used for colors.
くすんだ色の服を着ている。
She is wearing clothes in dull colors.
壁の色がくすんで見える。
The wall color looks dull.
Also used for dull light or a dull sound, as in 'a dull glow' or 'a dull thud'.
鈍い光が部屋を照らしていた。
A dull light illuminated the room.
Means 'cloudy' or 'dull' when referring to a surface that has lost its shine, like a mirror or metal.
曇った鏡を磨いた。
I polished the dull mirror.
Means 'dull', 'lackluster', or 'unclear'. Often used for colors, weather, or a person's expression.
冴えない空模様だ。
The sky looks dull.
Describing a person who is not quick to understand or react.
Can mean 'slow' or 'dull' mentally. Often used with 頭 (head) as in 頭が鈍い.
彼は頭が鈍い。
He is dull-witted.
今日は頭が鈍くて集中できない。
My mind is dull today and I can't concentrate.
A colloquial noun meaning 'slowpoke' or 'dullard'. Can be insulting.
あいつはのろまだ。
That guy is dull/slow.
A formal, literary term meaning 'stupid' or 'dull-witted'. Stronger and more insulting.
Describing a pain that is not sharp but persistent and heavy.
A medical/formal term for 'dull pain', as opposed to sharp pain (鋭痛).
腰に鈍痛がある。
I have a dull pain in my lower back.
A common phrase meaning 'dull pain', using the adjective 鈍い.
鈍い痛みが続いている。
A dull pain persists.
Describing a sound that is not clear or resonant, like a thud.
The standard way to say 'dull sound', such as a thud or muffled noise.
何かが落ちて鈍い音がした。
Something fell with a dull sound.
Onomatopoeia for a heavy, dull thud.
ドスンと床に落ちた。
It fell to the floor with a dull thud.
Both mean 'boring' or 'dull', but 退屈 is slightly more formal and often used for situations or things that are tedious over time. つまらない is more casual and can also mean 'trivial' or 'worthless'. In everyday conversation, つまらない is very common.
While 'dull weather' is common in English, directly translating it as 鈍い天気 sounds unnatural. Use 曇った (cloudy), 冴えない (gloomy), or どんよりした (overcast/dull) instead.
どんよりした空
a dull sky
そんななまくらな刀では切れない。
You can't cut with such a dull sword.
He is a dull-witted person.