Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 は 無む 能のう だ someone is incompetent
The employees really think that boss is incompetent.
無む 能のう を 露ろ 呈てい する to expose one's incompetence
He ended up exposing his own incompetence at the important meeting.
無む 能のう な 〈 人ひと 〉 an incompetent person (in a certain role)
I don't want to leave the country's future in the hands of an incompetent politician.
〈 人ひと 〉 を 無む 能のう 扱あつか いする to treat someone as incompetent
It's harsh to treat someone as incompetent just for a small mistake.
Kanji 無 nothingness, none, ain't Related words 無力 emphasizes a lack of power or influence to affect outcomes, while 無能 focuses on a lack of skill or ability to perform tasks.
能無し is a blunt, colloquial insult for an incompetent person, whereas 無能 can be used more formally or analytically.
無能 describes a lack of skill or ability to perform, whereas 無知 describes a lack of knowledge or awareness.
Opposites· 6 able; capable; competent
無能 describes a lack of competence or ability, the opposite of the skillful effectiveness implied by 手腕 .
無能 means incompetent or lacking ability, the direct opposite of 敏腕 's sense of impressive skill and effectiveness.
Show 3 more Show fewer 無能 describes a lack of ability or incompetence, the direct opposite of having 能力 .
無能 describes someone incompetent or lacking ability, the opposite of an オールマイティ person who excels at everything.
能 refers to ability or usefulness, while 無能 describes someone or something as lacking ability, i.e. incompetent.
Don't confuse with 堪能 (proficient, skilled) shares the kanji 能 with 無能 (incompetent) but means the opposite, so learners can easily mix them up at a glance.
無能 means 'incompetent' (lacking skill or ability as a personal trait), whereas 不能 (sense 2) refers more broadly to an inability or incapacity, often institutional or situational rather than personal failing.
Word family incompetence; inability; incapacity
incompetent person; person of no ability
idle and incompetent; accomplishing nothing and lacking ability
ineptitude and inaction; incapable of devising appropriate measures
talentless and incompetent; unaccomplished
Etymology From 無 (mu, 'without') + 能 (nō, 'ability'). The combination directly yields 'without ability'.
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