不 親 切(ふしんせつ)

ふしんせつ

na-adjective, noun

unkind; unhelpful; inconsiderate

1. unkind; unhelpful; inconsiderate

Lacking kindness or helpfulness in dealing with others. Used to describe people, attitudes, service, or explanations that fail to show adequate consideration.

あの店員(てんいん)は不親切(ふしんせつ)だった。

That shop clerk was unhelpful.

説明書(せつめいしょ)が不親切(ふしんせつ)で、使(つか)い方(かた)がわからない。

The instruction manual is unhelpful, and I can't figure out how to use it.

困(こま)っている人(ひと)を見(み)て見(み)ぬふりをするのは不親切(ふしんせつ)だと思(おも)う。

I think it's unkind to look the other way when someone is in trouble.

The negative form of 親切(しんせつ) (kind, helpful), formed with the prefix 不(ふ). While 親切(しんせつ) is one of the most common adjectives for praising someone's helpfulness, 不親切(ふしんせつ) carries a clear tone of criticism or complaint.

Usage

Used as a na-adjective: 不親切(ふしんせつ)な対応(たいおう) (unhelpful response), 不親切(ふしんせつ)な人(ひと) (unkind person). Can also describe things like manuals, signs, or systems that are poorly designed from the user's perspective.

Common collocations

不親切(ふしんせつ)な対応(たいおう) — unhelpful/rude service
不親切(ふしんせつ)な説明(せつめい) — inadequate explanation
不親切(ふしんせつ)な設計(せっけい) — user-unfriendly design

Similar words

冷(つめ)たい — cold; describes emotional coldness rather than lack of helpfulness
無愛想(ぶあいそう) — unfriendly, curt; focuses on manner and demeanor
意地悪(いじわる) — mean, spiteful; implies deliberate unkindness, stronger than 不親切(ふしんせつ)

Related Words

Antonym: 親切(しんせつ) (kind)

Compare: 冷(つめ)たい (cold)

Compare: 無愛想(ぶあいそう) (unfriendly, curt)

Compare: 意地悪(いじわる) (mean, spiteful)

general

Added 2026.3.26 14:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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