ＫＹ

na-adjective, noun

unable to read the room; socially clueless

Slang abbreviation from 空気 (kūki) and 読めない (yomenai). Describes a person who cannot pick up on the atmosphere or unspoken social cues. Often used as a label for someone who says or does inappropriate things.

See also: 空気が読めない

• 彼かれはＫＹだから、空くう気きを読よまずに変へんなことを言いう。

  He's KY, so he says weird things without reading the room.

• あの発はつ言げんは完かん全ぜんにＫＹだった。

  That remark was totally KY.

noun

danger prevention; hazard anticipation

Abbreviation from 危険 (kiken) and 予知 (yochi). Used in workplace safety contexts, especially in Japan's industrial safety movement. Rare outside that domain.

• ＫＹ活かつ動どうは、職しょく場ばの危き険けんを予よ知ちするための訓くん練れんです。

  KY activity is training to anticipate workplace dangers.