間 抜(まぬ)け

まぬけ

noun, na-adjective

fool; stupid; dimwit

1. fool; idiot; dimwit

A person who is slow-witted or does foolish things. Also used as a na-adjective to describe foolish actions or appearances.

なんて間抜(まぬ)けなやつだ。

What an idiot.

間抜(まぬ)けな顔(かお)をして突(つ)っ立(た)っていた。

He was standing there with a stupid look on his face.

鍵(かぎ)をかけたまま家(いえ)の中(なか)に閉(と)じ込(こ)めてしまうなんて、間抜(まぬ)けにもほどがある。

Locking yourself inside the house with the key still in the door — there's a limit to how foolish you can be.

Etymology

Literally "missing the 間(ま)" — from the performing arts, where 間(ま) refers to timing or rhythm. Someone who misses the beat is out of step, hence foolish.

Usage

Used both as a noun (間抜(まぬ)けだ) and as a na-adjective (間抜(まぬ)けな). Moderately insulting — stronger than おっちょこちょい (scatterbrained) but less harsh than 馬鹿(ばか) in many contexts. Often used with exasperated affection.

Common collocations

間抜(まぬ)けな顔(かお) (stupid face/expression)
間抜(まぬ)けな失敗(しっぱい) (stupid mistake)
間抜(まぬ)けにもほどがある (there's a limit to how foolish one can be)

Related Words

Synonym: 馬鹿(ばか) (fool, idiot (harsher))

Compare: 愚(おろ)か者(もの) (fool)

Compare: 阿呆(あほう) (fool)

Compare: 間(ま)の抜(ぬ)けた (foolish)

general

Added 2026.3.2 16:41 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

14500/14572_manuke