不ぶ器き用よう

ぶ

き

よ

う

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

clumsy; awkward; unskillful

Describes physical clumsiness or lack of manual dexterity; also used for general lack of skill in tasks.

彼かれは不ぶ器き用ようで、よく物ものを落おとす。
He is clumsy and often drops things.
不ぶ器き

用よう

な

手て

つき

で

包ほう

丁ちょう

を

使つか

っ

て

いる

。

He is using the kitchen knife with clumsy hands.

2

na-adjective, noun

incompetent; inept; socially awkward

Extends clumsiness to social situations or general ineptitude; can describe a person who is tactless, bungling, or lacks social grace.

彼かれは不ぶ器き用ようで、人ひと付づき合あいが苦にが手てだ。
He is socially awkward and not good at dealing with people.
不ぶ器き用ような言いい訳わけをして、かえって怒おこらせた。
He made a clumsy excuse and ended up making her angrier.

Written forms

不ぶ器き用よう
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
無ぶ器き用よう
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

不negative, non-, bad
器utensil, vessel, receptacle
用utilize, business, service
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

下手へた
下手 is a more general word for 'unskillful' or 'poor at something', while 不器用 emphasizes clumsiness or lack of dexterity, often with a nuance of physical awkwardness or social ineptitude.
ぎこちない
ぎこちない describes stiff, unnatural movements or speech, often due to nervousness or unfamiliarity, whereas 不器用 implies an inherent lack of skill or grace.

Etymology

Compound of 不 (bu, 'not') and 器用 (kiyō, 'skillful, dexterous'). The kanji 器用 literally means 'utensil-use', referring to manual skill. The alternative form 無器用 uses 無 (mu, 'without') instead of 不, but is rare.