1.
ungrateful; ingrate; thankless person
A person who does not appreciate or acknowledge kindness received. Also used as an adjective to describe such behavior.
恩知らずな人だ。
What an ungrateful person.
あれだけ助けてもらったのに、恩知らずにもほどがある。
After receiving so much help, there's a limit to how ungrateful you can be.
恩知らずと言われたくなかったので、お礼の手紙を書いた。
I didn't want to be called ungrateful, so I wrote a thank-you letter.
FORMATION:
恩 (kindness, favor, debt of gratitude) + 知らず (not knowing). Literally "not knowing kindness."
USAGE:
A strong word of criticism. Used as a na-adjective (恩知らずな) or as a noun to refer to an ungrateful person. Carries significant moral weight in Japanese culture, where gratitude (恩) and repaying kindness (恩返し) are deeply valued.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 恩知らずな人 (an ungrateful person)
- 恩知らずな態度 (ungrateful attitude)
RELATED:
- 恩返し (repaying a debt of gratitude)
- 恩に着る (to feel indebted)