不ふ始し末まつ

ふ

し

ま

つ

Meanings

Refers to a negligent failure to do what should have been done, or an incomplete, sloppy result. Often used in formal or business contexts to describe a lack of proper care.

報ほう告こく書しょの不ふ始し末まつが原げん因いんで、プロジェクトが遅おくれた。
The project was delayed due to the omission in the report.
彼かれの仕し事ごとには不ふ始し末まつな点てんが多おおすぎる。
There are too many careless oversights in his work.

noun, na-adjective

mismanagement; misconduct; carelessness

Covers a range of blameworthy actions: poor handling of affairs, wasteful or extravagant behavior, and professional misconduct. Often implies a breach of duty or trust.

経けい理りの不ふ始し末まつが発はっ覚かくし、担たん当とう者しゃは解かい雇こされた。
The accounting irregularities came to light, and the person in charge was dismissed.
金きん銭せんの不ふ始し末まつは絶ぜっ対たいに許ゆるされない。
Financial misconduct will never be tolerated.

See all 22 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

火ひの不ふ始し末まつcareless handling of fire (that leads to an accident)
火ひの不ふ始し末まつが原げん因いんで火か事じが起おきた。
The fire was caused by careless handling of fire.
不ふ始し末まつを起おこすto cause an incident through negligence or misconduct
社しゃ員いんが不ふ始し末まつを起おこし、会かい社しゃは謝しゃ罪ざいした。
An employee's misconduct caused an incident, and the company apologized.
〈人ひと〉の不ふ始し末まつの責せき任にんを取とるto take responsibility for someone's misconduct or mismanagement
部ぶ長ちょうは部ぶ下かの不ふ始し末まつの責せき任にんを取とって辞じ任にんした。
The manager took responsibility for his subordinate's misconduct and resigned.
不ふ始し末まつを詫わびるto apologize for one's negligence or misconduct
彼かれは自じ分ぶんの不ふ始し末まつを深ふかく詫わびた。
He deeply apologized for his own misconduct.

Kanji

不negative, non-, bad
始commence, begin
末end, close, tip

Related words

不ふ手て際ぎわ
不手際 focuses on a clumsy or inept handling of a task, implying a lack of skill, while 不始末 emphasizes negligence, omission, or moral failure.
怠たい慢まんN1sense 2
怠慢 is a more direct term for negligence or dereliction of duty, often used in legal or disciplinary contexts, whereas 不始末 is broader and can include wastefulness or misconduct.
失しっ態たい sense 2
失態 describes a public blunder or embarrassing mistake that damages one's reputation, while 不始末 covers negligence or mismanagement that need not be public.
過か失しつN2sense 1
過失 is a formal, often legal term for a fault or error causing harm, while 不始末 is broader and can describe careless handling without legal implications.

Don't confuse with

始し末まつN1
始末 simply means the management or settlement of an affair without negative connotation, while 不始末 adds the negative sense of improper, negligent handling.

Built from

不ふ+始し末まつ

Etymology

Compound of 不 (negation) and 始末 (management, dealing with). The literal sense is 'not properly managed,' which extended to mean negligence, omission, and misconduct.