Japanese word

不便

Pronunciation

Romajifuben

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveinconvenient

Example

この駅は不便です。ko no eki wa fu ben de su

This station is inconvenient.

Illustration for 不便 (inconvenient)

More examples

駅が遠いと、不便です。eki ga tō i to fu ben de su

It is inconvenient when the station is far away.

Core concept

Describes a situation that makes an action harder or less convenient than it needs to be.

Common phrases

  • 不便な場所fu ben na ba sho

    an inconvenient place

  • 不便な生活fu ben na sei katsu

    an inconvenient life

Similar words

不自由fujiyū: Describes a condition in which needed movement, use, or choice is limited.
面倒mendō: Describes something that is troublesome because it takes effort, time, or attention.
不都合futsugō: Describes a condition that creates a problem or is unsuitable for a particular purpose.

Definition in Japanese

物事を行うのに都合が悪く、使いにくいさま。mono goto o okona u no ni tsu gō ga waru ku tsuka i ni ku i sa ma

Word origin

不便 (fuben) combines 不 (fu, "not") and 便 (ben, "convenience"), giving the sense of a lack of convenience.

Usage tips

  • As a な (na) adjective, 不便 (fuben) appears before nouns in forms such as 不便な店 (fuben na mise), while 不便さ (fubensa) names the resulting inconvenience.

Other meanings

  • inconveniencenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 不便さfubensainconveniencenoun

Word lists with this word