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不相応 (ふそうおう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
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高こう
級きゅう
車しゃ
を
買か
っ
た
。
He bought a luxury car out of proportion to his income.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 の 地ち 位い に 不ふ 相そう 応おう な 〈 物もの 〉 something unsuited to someone's rank or position
He bought a luxury car unsuited to his position.
〈 人ひと 〉 の 年ねん 齢れい に 不ふ 相そう 応おう な 〈 物もの 〉 something inappropriate for someone's age
She wears clothes that don't suit her age.
〈 人ひと 〉 の 収しゅう 入にゅう に 不ふ 相そう 応おう な 〈 事こと 〉 をする to do something (e.g. live a lifestyle) beyond one's income
He is living a lifestyle beyond his income.
Kanji 相 inter-, mutual, together Related words 不適切 is a broader word for inappropriate behavior, wording, or handling, whereas 不相応 specifically means mismatched with one's status, age, or means.
不釣り合い emphasizes a visible mismatch or imbalance between two things, while 不相応 focuses on something being undeserved or beyond one's proper station.
Opposites 相応 means suitable or proportionate, while 不相応 means unsuited or out of proportion — they are direct opposites.
不相応 describes something disproportionate or unfitting to one's status, the opposite of the fair, proportionate share implied by 応分.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound formed from 不, a negative prefix, and 相応, meaning suitability or proportion. The spelling transparently conveys 'not suitable' or 'not proportionate.'
