Translation guide
Describes a person, attitude, or response that lacks understanding, compassion, or emotional support. The most natural Japanese expressions depend on whether you mean 'cold/unfeeling', 'unhelpful/uncooperative', or 'indifferent to someone's suffering'.
Describing a person, remark, or attitude that is cold, unfeeling, or indifferent to others' feelings.
The most common and versatile word for 'cold' in an emotional sense. Can describe a person, attitude, response, or atmosphere.
He is a cold person.
I was treated with a cold attitude.
Literally 'lacks consideration/compassion'. A direct and clear way to say someone is unsympathetic.
His reply was unsympathetic.
Means 'heartless' or 'cruel'. Stronger than 冷たい, often used in literary or dramatic contexts.
He hurled heartless words.
Means 'indifferent' or 'cool'. Often used for a deliberately detached or unfeeling attitude.
I was disappointed by the unsympathetic response.
Describing a reaction that is not favorable, cooperative, or understanding toward an idea, request, or situation.
Literally 'does not show understanding'. Used when someone fails to acknowledge or accept another's position.
My boss was unsympathetic to my proposal.
Means 'does not empathize'. Often used when someone fails to share or understand another's feelings.
Means 'does not agree'. Only fits when 'unsympathetic' means 'not in favor of' a plan or idea.
Describing a lack of pity or concern when someone is in trouble or pain.
Directly means 'does not sympathize'. The most straightforward translation in contexts of pity or compassion.
He was unsympathetic about my failure.
Literally 'does not feel sorry for'. A natural, slightly softer way to express lack of sympathy.
Means 'cruel' or 'ruthless'. Much stronger than 'unsympathetic'; use only when the lack of sympathy is extreme.
I received cruel treatment.
There is no single Japanese adjective that covers all uses of 'unsympathetic'. Using 無同情な or similar made-up words will not be understood. Choose the expression that matches the specific nuance: coldness, lack of understanding, or lack of pity.
冷たい is a general adjective for emotional coldness and can describe a person's character or a single action. 思いやりがない explicitly states the absence of compassion and is often used to criticize a specific remark or behavior.
He was unsympathetic to my worries.
The committee was unsympathetic to the plan.
She was unsympathetic to my situation.