デリカシー

でりかしー
noun
sensitivity, tact
communication
1. sensitivity, tact, delicacy
The quality of being considerate and tactful about others' feelings. In Japanese, almost always used in negative contexts — to describe a lack of sensitivity.
デリカシーない(ひと)だ。
He's a person with no tact.
Asking someone's weight is completely lacking in sensitivity.
Can't you find a more tactful way to say that?

Common patterns

デリカシー is almost exclusively used in negative constructions in Japanese. The most common pattern is デリカシーない (to lack tact/sensitivity). It is rarely used to praise someone's sensitivity — for that, 気遣(きづか) or 配慮(はいりょ) would be more natural.

Etymology

From English "delicacy." The meaning has narrowed in Japanese to focus specifically on interpersonal sensitivity.

Common collocations