空くう気きを読よむ

expression, godan verb (-mu)

read the room; sense the mood; read the situation

The ability to pick up on unspoken social cues and adjust one's behavior accordingly. Often used in the negative form 空気を読めない (can't read the room) to describe socially awkward people.

• 彼かれは空くう気きを読よめない発はつ言げんをして、場ばをしらけさせた。

  He made a remark that showed he couldn't read the room, and it killed the mood.

• 空くう気きを読よんで、今いまはその話はなしをしないほうがいい。

  Read the room—it's better not to bring that up right now.