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.
あの店員は不親切だった。
That shop clerk was unhelpful.
説明書が不親切で、使い方がわからない。
The instruction manual is unhelpful, and I can't figure out how to use it.
困っている人を見て見ぬふりをするのは不親切だと思う。
I think it's unkind to look the other way when someone is in trouble.
The negative form of 親切 (kind, helpful), formed with the prefix 不. While 親切 is one of the most common adjectives for praising someone's helpfulness, 不親切 carries a clear tone of criticism or complaint.
USAGE:
Used as a na-adjective: 不親切な対応 (unhelpful response), 不親切な人 (unkind person). Can also describe things like manuals, signs, or systems that are poorly designed from the user's perspective.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 不親切な対応 — unhelpful/rude service
- 不親切な説明 — inadequate explanation
- 不親切な設計 — user-unfriendly design
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 冷たい — cold; describes emotional coldness rather than lack of helpfulness
- 無愛想 — unfriendly, curt; focuses on manner and demeanor
- 意地悪 — mean, spiteful; implies deliberate unkindness, stronger than 不親切