うすのろ

う

す

の

ろ

Meanings

noun, na-adjective

half-wit; fool; simpleton

usually written using kana alone

A derogatory term for a slow-witted or foolish person. Often used as an insult.

あいつはうすのろだから、何なにを言いっても無む駄だだ。
That guy is a half-wit, so it's useless to say anything to him.
うすのろな奴やつだと思おもわれたくない。
I don't want to be thought of as a simpleton.

See all 8 example sentences ›

Kanji

薄dilute, thin, weak (tea)
鈍dull, slow, foolish
野plains, field, rustic
呂spine, backbone

Related words

ばか
ばか is a more general and common insult for 'fool' or 'idiot', while うすのろ specifically emphasizes slowness or dim-wittedness.
のろま
のろま focuses on being slow in movement or action, whereas うすのろ implies mental slowness or stupidity.

Written forms

うすのろUsage80%
Usually written in kana.
薄うすのろUsage13%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
ウスノロUsage7%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is sometimes used for emphasis or in casual writing.
薄鈍うすのろ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
薄うす野の呂ろ
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Ateji spelling; it is ateji and rarely used.

Etymology

The word is a compound of 薄 (usu, 'thin, weak') and のろ (noro, 'slow, dull'), literally meaning 'thin-witted' or 'dim-witted'. The exact derivation of のろ is uncertain, but it is likely related to the mimetic root のろのろ (slowly, sluggishly).