Translation guide
Describes the inability to sense the mood, atmosphere, or social cues in a situation, often leading to inappropriate behavior or comments.
To describe someone who fails to pick up on the atmosphere or social cues, often acting inappropriately.
The most direct and common way to say 'unable to read the room'. Literally 'cannot read the air'. Often abbreviated as 'KY' in casual text.
He can't read the room, so he often says inappropriate things.
That person can't read the room and everyone is troubled by it.
Slang abbreviation for '空気が読めない' (Kuuki ga Yomenai). Used mainly in casual, often online, contexts.
That comment was totally unable to read the room.
Dictionary form of '空気が読めない'. Used when describing the inability in a more general or attributive way.
People who can't read the room often struggle in relationships.
Emphasizes the inability to read the atmosphere of a specific place or situation.
He can't read the room, so he always makes weird suggestions in meetings.
To describe someone who says or does things without considering others' feelings or the situation.
Means 'insensitive' or 'tactless'. Describes a person who lacks consideration for others' feelings.
Everyone was hurt by his insensitive remark.
From English 'delicacy'. Means lacking delicacy or tact. Often used in spoken Japanese.
Means 'not thoughtful' or 'not attentive'. Describes someone who fails to notice what needs to be done or what others want.
To describe someone who is completely unaware of the emotional atmosphere or tension.
Means 'insensitive' or 'thick-skinned' in terms of not noticing subtle emotional cues. Often used for someone who doesn't realize they are being disliked or causing discomfort.
He's so oblivious that he doesn't realize he's disliked.
Literally 'bad at reading the air'. A softer way to say someone struggles with reading the room.
空気が読めない focuses on failing to grasp the social atmosphere or expectations. 無神経 implies a lack of consideration for others' feelings, often in speech or actions. 鈍感 is about being emotionally thick-skinned or slow to notice subtle cues, sometimes with a nuance of being unaffected by criticism.
KY is a slang term popularized in the 2000s. It's very casual and can sound dated or flippant. Use it only among friends or in informal online communication.
Saying something like that is so insensitive.
She has no delicacy, so she casually reveals people's secrets.
He's not thoughtful, so he didn't even offer tea to the guest.
あの人は鈍感で、場の雰囲気が悪くなっても平気だ。
That person is insensitive and doesn't care even when the atmosphere turns sour.
I'm bad at reading the room, so my friends often point it out.