そっけない

そっけない describes a manner that lacks warmth, friendliness, or enthusiasm. It often implies that someone is being abrupt or dismissive, whether intentionally or not.

Forms

• そっけなく (adverbial): そっけなく断(ことわ)る (to refuse curtly)
• そっけなさ (noun form): 彼(かれ)のそっけなさ (his coldness)

Writing

Can be written as 素(そ)っ気(け)ない, though hiragana is more common.

Common collocations

• そっけない態度(たいど): cold attitude
• そっけない返事(へんじ): curt reply
• そっけなく扱(あつか)う: to treat coldly

Similar words

• 冷(つめ)たい: cold (in attitude; broader, can describe personality overall)
• よそよそしい: distant, aloof (implies deliberate emotional distance)
• 無愛想(ぶあいそう): unfriendly, gruff (lack of social warmth in general)