Japanese word

鈍感

Pronunciation

Romajidonkan

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveinsensitive

Example

彼は人の気持ちに鈍感です。kare wa hito no ki mo chi ni don kan de su

He is insensitive to other people's feelings.

Illustration for 鈍感 (insensitive)

More examples

彼は周囲の変化に鈍感です。kare wa shū i no hen ka ni don kan de su

He is insensitive to changes in his surroundings.

Core concept

Describes a person or sense that fails to notice feelings, changes, or signals that others readily perceive.

Common phrases

  • 人の気持ちに鈍感hito no ki mo chi ni don kan

    be insensitive to people's feelings

  • 批判に鈍感hi han ni don kan

    be insensitive to criticism

  • 音に鈍感oto ni don kan

    be insensitive to sound

Similar words

無神経mushinkei: Failing to consider how one's words or actions affect other people's feelings.
無頓着mutonchaku: Showing little concern for a matter or for how it affects others.

Definition in Japanese

人の気持ちや周囲の変化などを感じ取る力が弱いさま。hito no ki mo chi ya shū i no hen ka na do o kan ji to ru chikara ga yowa i sa ma

Word origin

鈍 (don, "dull") + 感 (kan, "feeling") forms 鈍感 (donkan), describing a lack of sensitivity to feelings, changes, or signals.

Usage tips

  • In conversational English, insensitive often implies hurtful behavior toward people's feelings, while 鈍感 (donkan) can also describe weak sensitivity to physical or situational changes.

Other meanings

  • dullna-adjective
  • thick-skinnedna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 鈍感さdonkansainsensitivitynoun

Word lists with this word