無 難(ぶなん)

ぶなん

na-adjective

safe; acceptable; passable

1. safe; acceptable; passable

Describes a choice, action, or result that is free from risk or objection—not outstanding but unlikely to cause problems. Often used when recommending a conservative or middle-of-the-road option.

無難(ぶなん)な色(いろ)を選(えら)んだ。

I chose a safe color.

黒(くろ)いスーツが一番(いちばん)無難(ぶなん)だと思(おも)う。

I think a black suit is the safest choice.

初(はじ)めてのプレゼントなら、無難(ぶなん)なものにしておいたほうがいい。

If it's your first time giving a present, it's better to go with something safe.

Usage

無難(ぶなん) is a na-adjective that modifies nouns with な: 無難(ぶなん)な選択(せんたく) (a safe choice). It can also be used as a standalone predicate: これが無難(ぶなん)だ (this is the safe bet). The word carries a slightly lukewarm nuance—choosing 無難(ぶなん) means avoiding failure rather than pursuing excellence.

Common collocations

無難(ぶなん)な選択(せんたく) (safe choice)
無難(ぶなん)な答(こた)え (safe answer)
無難(ぶなん)にこなす (handle something without incident)
無難(ぶなん)に済(す)ませる (get through something safely)

Similar words

安全(あんぜん) refers to physical safety, while 無難(ぶなん) is about avoiding criticism or risk in social situations. 当(あ)たり障(さわ)りのない means inoffensive and is close in nuance, but focuses more on not causing discomfort.

Related Words

Compare: 安全(あんぜん) (physical safety)

general

Added 2026.3.8 19:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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