おっちょこちょい
おっちょこちょい
noun, na-adjective
scatterbrain; clumsy person; careless blunderer
1.
scatterbrain; clumsy person; careless blunderer
A person who acts hastily without thinking, often making silly mistakes or blunders. Can also be used as a na-adjective to describe such careless behavior. Has a lighthearted, somewhat affectionate tone rather than being harshly critical.
あの人はおっちょこちょいだ。
That person is a scatterbrain.
おっちょこちょいな性格を直したい。
I want to fix my scatterbrained personality.
彼女はおっちょこちょいで、今日も鍵を忘れて家を出てしまった。
She's such a scatterbrain — today she left the house forgetting her keys again.
USAGE:
Used as both a noun (おっちょこちょいだ) and a na-adjective (おっちょこちょいな). The word has a lighthearted, playful nuance — it describes someone who makes careless mistakes but not in a malicious way. Often used affectionately or with mild exasperation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- おっちょこちょいな性格 (scatterbrained personality)
- おっちょこちょいなミス (careless blunder)
- おっちょこちょいな人 (a scatterbrained person)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 慌て者: hasty person — similar but emphasizes rushing rather than general carelessness
- うっかり者: absentminded person — focuses on forgetfulness rather than impulsive carelessness
- 粗忽者: blunderer — more formal/literary equivalent