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言葉足らず (ことばたらず) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun, na-adjective
inarticulate ; not saying enough ; lack of words
Describes a situation where someone fails to express themselves fully, often leaving the listener confused or unsatisfied. Can be used as a noun or na-adjective.
言こと 葉ば 足た ら ず な 返へん 事じ を し て しまい 、 相あい 手て を 怒おこ ら せ た 。
I gave an inarticulate reply and made the other person angry.
Kanji 足 leg, foot, be sufficient Similar words 口下手くちべた 口下手 refers to being poor at speaking in general, while 言葉足らず focuses on not saying enough or failing to convey the intended meaning in a specific instance.
舌した 足た らず 舌足らず often implies a physical speech impediment or childish pronunciation, whereas 言葉足らず is about insufficient verbal expression.
Etymology Compound of 言葉 (kotoba, 'words') and 足らず (tarazu, 'insufficient'), the negative form of 足りる (tariru, 'to be enough').
