Translation guide
The quality of being unfriendly, cold, or distant in social interaction. Japanese expresses this through adjectives, nouns, and verbs describing personality, atmosphere, or behavior.
To say someone is unfriendly by nature, not just in a specific moment.
A common adjective/noun meaning blunt, unsociable, or curt. Often used for someone who doesn't smile or engage warmly.
彼は無愛想な人だ。
He is an unfriendly person.
Literally 'bad affability'. Describes someone who is unfriendly or unwelcoming in demeanor.
あの店員は愛想が悪い。
That clerk is unfriendly.
Means 'cold' and can describe an unfriendly, cold-hearted attitude.
彼女は冷たい人だ。
She is a cold person.
Synonym of 無愛想, slightly less common. Also means unsociable or blunt.
不愛想な態度をとる。
To take an unfriendly attitude.
To describe a place, group, or situation that feels unwelcoming or cold.
Literally 'cold atmosphere'. Used for environments that feel unfriendly or unwelcoming.
その会議は冷たい雰囲気だった。
The meeting had an unfriendly atmosphere.
Describes a distant, standoffish atmosphere or behavior, as if treating someone like a stranger.
よそよそしい態度をとられた。
I was treated in an unfriendly, distant way.
Describes a harsh, brutal, or unfriendly atmosphere, often used for competitive or tense environments.
殺伐とした職場だ。
It's a harsh, unfriendly workplace.
To describe an act that is unfriendly, such as ignoring someone or being rude.
To act coldly toward someone, to give the cold shoulder.
彼は急に私に冷たくした。
He suddenly became unfriendly toward me.
To ignore someone, which is a common unfriendly behavior.
彼女は私を無視した。
She ignored me (acted unfriendly).
To take a curt, brusque attitude; to be short with someone.
彼はそっけない態度をとった。
He was unfriendly and curt.
To refer to unfriendliness as a concept or trait.
The noun form of 無愛想, meaning unfriendliness or bluntness as a trait.
彼の無愛想さには驚いた。
I was surprised by his unfriendliness.
Coldness, used metaphorically for unfriendliness.
彼女の冷たさが怖い。
Her coldness (unfriendliness) is scary.
Unkindness, lack of helpfulness. Can overlap with unfriendliness in service contexts.
無愛想 focuses on a lack of sociability or bluntness, often in facial expression or minimal speech. 冷たい implies emotional coldness, possibly with intent to hurt or distance. A 無愛想 person may just be awkward, while a 冷たい person is deliberately unfriendly.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'unfriendly' in all contexts. Avoid direct translations like 不友好的 (ふゆうこうてき), which is rarely used and sounds unnatural. Use the options above based on the specific nuance.
その店の不親切にはがっかりした。
I was disappointed by the unfriendliness of that store.