Japanese symbol for “incompetent”
不器用
ぶきよう
Romaji: bukiyou
clumsy; awkward; unskillful
In Japanese, incompetent is 不器用, read ぶきよう (bukiyou).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- adj-na, n clumsy; awkward; unskillful
- adj-na, n incompetent; inept; bungling; (socially) awkward; gawky; gauche
Written forms: 不器用、無器用. Readings: ぶきよう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “incompetent”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 能無し | のうなし nounashi | incompetent; no-talent; worthless person |
| 非力 | ひりき hiriki | incompetent; lacking ability; powerless |
| 不肖 | ふしょう fushou | incompetent; unskilled; inexperienced |
| へっぽこ | へっぽこ heppoko | hack; untrained; incompetent |
| 無能者 | むのうしゃ munousha | incompetent (person) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 不明 | ふめい fumei | unclear; obscure; indistinct |
| 不安 | ふあん fuan | anxiety; uneasiness; worry |
| 不足 | ふそく fusoku | insufficiency; deficiency; shortage |
| 不満 | ふまん fuman | dissatisfaction; discontent; displeasure |
| 不可能 | ふかのう fukanou | impossible |
| 不思議 | ふしぎ fushigi | wonderful; marvelous; strange |
| 武器 | ぶき buki | weapon; arms; ordnance |
| 兵器 | へいき heiki | arms; weapon; ordnance |
| 使用 | しよう shiyou | use; application; employment |
See also: Chinese symbol for “incompetent”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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