無粋(ぶすい)

ぶすい
na-adjective
boorish, uncouth, insensitive
1. boorish, uncouth, unrefined, insensitive to social graces
Lacking refinement, elegance, or understanding of social subtleties. Describes someone or something that is tactless, unpolished, or fails to appreciate the finer points of a situation.
無粋(ぶすい)なことを聞(き)く
to ask a tactless question
お花見(はなみ)で仕事(しごと)の話(はなし)をするのは無粋(ぶすい)だ。
It's boorish to talk about work at a cherry blossom viewing.
値段(ねだん)を聞(き)くのは無粋(ぶすい)かもしれないが、予算(よさん)があるので。
It may be uncouth to ask about the price, but I have a budget.

ADJECTIVE TYPE: Na-adjective. Uses な before nouns: 無粋(ぶすい)な質問(しつもん).

ETYMOLOGY: 無(ぶ) (without) + 粋(すい) (refined elegance, chic)

NUANCE: 無粋(ぶすい) implies a lack of sensitivity to atmosphere, mood, or social graces. It's often used self-deprecatingly when about to do something that might spoil the mood or violate social conventions.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 無粋(ぶすい)なことを聞(き)く/言(い)う (to say/ask something tactless)
  • 無粋(ぶすい)な質問(しつもん) (tactless question)
  • 無粋(ぶすい)な人(ひと) (boorish person)

RELATED WORDS:

  • 野暮(やぼ) (uncouth, tactless - similar)
  • 粋(いき)/粋(すい) (refined, chic - opposite)
  • 無神経(むしんけい) (insensitive)
  • 悪趣味(あくしゅみ) (bad taste)
general
Added 2026.2.1 10:39
09000/09182_busui