Japanese word

不自然

Pronunciation

Romajifushizen

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveunnatural

Example

その笑顔は不自然です。so no e gao wa fu shi zen de su

That smile is unnatural.

Illustration for 不自然 (unnatural)

More examples

練習した表現を無理に使うと、会話が不自然になります。ren shū shi ta hyō gen o mu ri ni tsuka u to kai wa ga fu shi zen ni na ri ma su

Forcing yourself to use a phrase you practiced can make your conversation sound unnatural.

Core concept

Describes something that fails to look, sound, or behave as it normally would, so it seems forced or out of place.

Common phrases

  • 不自然な反応fu shi zen na han nō

    an unnatural reaction

  • 不自然な姿勢fu shi zen na shi sei

    an unnatural posture

  • 不自然に振る舞うfu shi zen ni fu ru ma u

    behave unnaturally

Similar words

変hen: Describes something that seems strange, unsuitable, or out of place in its context.
奇妙kimyō: Describes something unusual in a way that is difficult to understand.
異様iyō: Describes something unusually strange and conspicuous in appearance or behavior.

Definition in Japanese

本来の性質や状態から外れていて、自然な感じがしないさま。hon rai no sei shitsu ya jō tai ka ra hazu re te i te shi zen na kan ji ga shi na i sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 不自然 (fushizen) combines 不 (fu, "not") with 自然 (shizen, "natural"), forming the sense of lacking naturalness.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 不自然 (fushizen) often describes wording, pauses, or behavior that feels forced rather than merely unusual, making it useful for subtle criticism.

Other meanings

  • artificialna-adjective
  • strainedna-adjective
  • affectedna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 不自然さfushizensaunnaturalnessnoun

Word lists with this word