うかつ

う

か

つ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Describes a lack of attention or caution that leads to a mistake or oversight. Often used when someone misses something obvious or acts without thinking.

うかつにも彼かれの名な前まえを忘わすれてしまった。
I carelessly forgot his name.
そんな大だい事じなことを見み落おとすなんて、うかつだった。
It was careless of me to overlook such an important thing.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Kanji

迂roundabout way
闊wide
濶wide

Related words

軽かるはずみN1
うかつ stresses carelessness or failing to notice something obvious, whereas 軽はずみ focuses on impulsive words or actions taken without thinking.
軽けい率そつN1
うかつ emphasizes being inattentive or caught off guard, whereas 軽率 focuses on acting without enough forethought.
不ふ注ちゅう意いN1
迂闊 is a more literary word for being thoughtless or careless, while 不注意 is the plain, everyday term for carelessness.
不ふ用よう意い
迂闊 describes being inattentive or dim to a situation, close to 不用意 but with a stronger sense of obliviousness rather than lack of preparation.

Word family

迂う闊かつ千せん万ばん
extremely careless; utterly thoughtless

Written forms

うかつUsage53%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 迂闊 and 迂濶 are rare.
迂う闊かつUsage43%
Rare kanji form; learners will mostly encounter the kana spelling.
迂う濶かつUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 濶 is a variant of 闊.
ウカツUsage2%

Etymology

The word is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 迂 (roundabout, careless) and 闊 (broad, careless) are ateji applied later for their meanings.