Japanese word

あいにく

Pronunciation

Romajiainiku

Meaning

  • adverbunfortunately

Example

あいにく店は休みです。a i ni ku mise wa yasu mi de su

Unfortunately, the store is closed.

Illustration for あいにく (unfortunately)

More examples

あいにく、明日の会議には参加できません。a i ni ku asu no kai gi ni wa san ka de ki ma se n

Unfortunately, I cannot attend tomorrow's meeting.

Core concept

Marks a situation as unfavorable to a person's immediate purpose and often introduces disappointing news.

Common phrases

  • あいにくですがa i ni ku de su ga

    sorry, but

Similar words

残念ながらzannennagara: Expresses regret about an unfavorable fact or situation.
運悪くunwaruku: Indicates that an unfavorable result occurs because of bad luck.
折悪しくoriashiku: Describes something happening at an inconvenient or unsuitable time.

Definition in Japanese

期待や都合に合わず、残念ながらそうなっているさま。ki tai ya tsu gō ni a wa zu zan nen na ga ra sō na tte i ru sa ma

Word origin

The adverb あいにく (ainiku, "unfortunately") is generally traced to the older form あやにく (ayaniku), while 生憎 (ainiku) is an ateji spelling.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, あいにく (ainiku) often begins a reply that reports unavailability or another disappointing fact, so it can soften a refusal without changing the outcome.

Other meanings

  • sorry but ___adverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word