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甲斐性なし (かいしょうなし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

甲斐性かいしょうなし

か

い

しょ

う

な

し

Meanings

1

good-for-nothing; useless person

Used to describe someone who lacks ability, reliability, or resourcefulness, often in a critical or self-deprecating way.

彼かれは甲斐性かいしょうなしだと言いわれ

て

落お

ち

込こ

ん

だ

。

He was depressed after being called a good-for-nothing.

自じ分ぶんを甲斐性かいしょうなしだと思おもうな。

Don't think of yourself as useless.

Kanji

甲armor, high (voice), A grade
斐beautiful, patterned
性sex, gender, nature
無nothingness, none, ain't

Related words

役やく立たたず
役立たず emphasizes being of no practical use, while 甲斐性なし focuses more on a person's lack of capability or worth as an individual.

Written forms

甲斐性かいしょうなし
Standard kanji spelling.
甲斐性無しかいしょうなし
Alternate kanji spelling using 無し.

Etymology

Compound of 甲斐性 (かいしょう, 'resourcefulness; ability') + なし ('without'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period to describe a person lacking competence or reliability.