1.
unsatisfying; not enough; leaving something to be desired
The feeling that something is incomplete or insufficient, leaving one wanting more.
食事の量が物足りない。
The amount of food is not enough.
彼の説明は物足りなかった。
His explanation was unsatisfying.
どこか物足りない気がする。
I feel like something is missing.
WORD FORMATION:
物 (thing) + 足りない (not sufficient) → something is lacking
FORMS:
- Adverbial: 物足りなく
- Noun form: 物足りなさ (the feeling of insufficiency)
CONJUGATION:
- Negative: 物足りなくない (double negative - rarely used)
- Te-form: 物足りなくて
- Past: 物足りなかった
USAGE PATTERNS:
- Xが物足りない (X is unsatisfying)
- どこか物足りない (something feels lacking)
- 物足りない気がする (to feel that something is lacking)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 足りない (not enough) - more direct, often about quantity
- 物足りない - implies emotional/qualitative insufficiency
- 不満 (dissatisfaction) - stronger discontent