Japanese word

そそっかしい

Pronunciation

Romajisosokkashii

Meaning

  • i-adjectivecareless

Example

私はそそっかしいので、よく忘れ物をします。watashi wa so so kka shi i no de yo ku wasu re mono o shi ma su

I am careless, so I often forget things.

Illustration for そそっかしい (careless)

More examples

妹はそそっかしいけれど、仕事は丁寧です。imōto wa so so kka shi i ke re do shi goto wa tei nei de su

My younger sister is careless, but she is careful with her work.

Core concept

Describes someone whose haste or lack of attention leads to small mistakes, forgotten things, or poorly considered actions.

Common phrases

  • そそっかしいところso so kka shi i to ko ro

    careless side

  • そそっかしい行動so so kka shi i kō dō

    careless behavior

  • そそっかしい間違いso so kka shi i ma chiga i

    careless mistake

Definition in Japanese

注意や確認が足りず、急いで行動して失敗しやすいさま。chū i ya kaku nin ga ta ri zu iso i de kō dō shi te ship pai shi ya su i sa ma

Word origin

The origin of そそっかしい (sosokkashii) is uncertain, but it is traditionally related to そそくさ (sosokusa, "hurriedly"); しい (shii) is an adjective-forming ending.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, そそっかしい (sosokkashii) often describes a person's recurring tendency to act before checking details, rather than one isolated mistake.

Other meanings

  • hastyi-adjective
  • rashi-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • そそっかしさsosokkashisacarelessnessnoun

Word lists with this word