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腑抜け (ふぬけ, funuke) Japanese meaning: coward | Kotomora

腑ふ抜ぬけ

ふ

ぬ

け

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

coward; spineless person; wimp

Derogatory term for a person who lacks courage, willpower, or backbone. Often used as an insult or in self-deprecation.

あんな腑ふ抜ぬけに何なにができる。
What can a coward like that do?

Kanji

腑viscera, bowels
抜slip out, extract, pull out

Related words

弱よわ虫むし
弱虫 is a more general term for a weakling or coward, while 腑抜け emphasizes a lack of spirit or resolve, often with a harsher tone.
意気地いくじなし
意気地なし also means coward or gutless person, but 腑抜け can imply a more fundamental lack of character or backbone.

Written forms

彼かれは腑ふ抜ぬけだから、決けつ断だんできない。

He's so spineless he can't make a decision.

腑ふ抜ぬけ

Usage74%

Standard kanji spelling.

ふぬけUsage19%

Kana spelling is common in informal writing.

フヌケUsage8%

Etymology

Compound of 腑 (ふ, 'gut, viscera') and 抜け (ぬけ, 'missing, lacking'), literally 'lacking guts'. The figurative meaning of lacking courage or spirit is an extension of the idea that one's innards are missing.