expression, godan verb (-mu)
read the room; sense the mood; read the situation
The ability to pick up on unspoken social cues and adjust one's behavior accordingly. Often used in the negative form 空気を読めない (can't read the room) to describe socially awkward people.
彼は空気を読めない発言をして、場をしらけさせた。
He made a remark that showed he couldn't read the room, and it killed the mood.
空気
Read the room—it's better not to bring that up right now.