おぼつかない

おぼつかない
i-adjective
uncertain; unreliable; unsteady
formalliterarydescriptive
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentおぼつかないおぼつかなくない
Pastおぼつかなかったおぼつかなくなかった
て formおぼつかなくておぼつかなくなくて
Adverbialおぼつかなく—
Conditional ばおぼつかなければおぼつかなくなければ
Conditional たらおぼつかなかったらおぼつかなくなかったら
1. uncertain; doubtful; unreliable
Not certain or dependable; unlikely to succeed or be achieved.
記憶(きおく)がおぼつかない。
My memory is unreliable.
計画(けいかく)の成功(せいこう)はおぼつかない。
The success of the plan is uncertain.
この調子(ちょうし)では締(し)め切(き)りに間(ま)に合(あ)うかおぼつかない。
At this rate, it's doubtful whether we'll make the deadline.
2. unsteady; shaky; wobbly
Not firm or stable in movement or posture.
足取(あしど)りがおぼつかない。
Their steps are unsteady.
赤(あか)ちゃんがおぼつかない足取(あしど)りで歩(ある)いている。
The baby is walking with unsteady steps.
酔(よ)っ払(ぱら)いがおぼつかない足取(あしど)りで駅(えき)に向(む)かっていた。
A drunk was heading toward the station with unsteady steps.

Writing

Rarely written 覚束(おぼつか)ない; hiragana is standard.

Etymology

From classical Japanese. The ない is **not** the negative suffix — it is part of the word itself, so おぼつかない is not the negative of anything. Compare せわしない and 切(せつ)ない, which are built the same way.

Usage

Commonly used with:

Sense 1 describes an outcome or a faculty that cannot be relied on; sense 2 describes physical unsteadiness. Both take the thing in doubt with が.

Register

Slightly formal and literary; common in writing and in careful speech, less so in casual conversation.

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 不確(ふたし)か (uncertain (plainer))
Related: ふらふら (unsteady, wobbly)
Related: せわしない (same non-negative ない formation)
Compare: 危(あや)うい (precarious, risky)
general
Added 2026.1.18 14:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
06500/06738_obotsukanai