KY

けーわい
noun, na-adjective
unable to read the room (slang)
1. unable to read the room, socially oblivious
A slang abbreviation for 空気(くうき)が読(よ)めない (kuuki ga yomenai - can't read the atmosphere). Describes someone who fails to pick up on social cues or says inappropriate things in a given situation.
彼(かれ)はKYだから場(ば)の空気(くうき)を壊(こわ)すことがある。
He can't read the room, so he sometimes ruins the atmosphere.
KYな発言(はつげん)で場(ば)が凍(こお)った。
The room went silent after that socially oblivious comment.
「KY」という言葉(ことば)は2000年代(ねんだい)に流行(りゅうこう)した。
The term 'KY' became popular in the 2000s.

ETYMOLOGY: Abbreviation of 空気(くうき) (K) + 読(よ)めない (Y), meaning "can't read the air/atmosphere." The term became widely popular around 2007 and was a top buzzword in Japan that year.

REGISTER: Casual/Slang
Primarily used in casual conversation. The abbreviation style reflects Japanese youth culture's tendency to create alphabet-based slang.

USAGE AS NA-ADJECTIVE:

  • KYな人(ひと) (a person who can't read the room)
  • KYな発言(はつげん) (a socially oblivious remark)
  • KYな行動(こうどう) (oblivious behavior)

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 空気(くうき)を読(よ)む (to read the room - positive ability)
  • 空気(くうき)が読(よ)めない (can't read the room - full form)
  • 場(ば)の空気(くうき) (the atmosphere of a place/situation)

CULTURAL NOTE:
The concept of 空気(くうき)を読(よ)む reflects the importance of nonverbal communication and social harmony in Japanese culture. Being unable to do so (KY) is seen as a significant social deficiency.

Related Words

Related: 空気(くうき)を読(よ)む (to read the room)
general
Added 2026.1.18 1:58 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06000/06469_keewai