無骨(ぶこつ)

ぶこつ
な-adjective
rough; rugged; unsophisticated
1. rough; rugged; unrefined; unsophisticated
Lacking elegance or refinement, whether describing a person's manner, appearance, or an object's design. Can carry either a negative sense (crude) or a positive sense (ruggedly charming).
無骨(ぶこつ)な手(て)で花(はな)を摘(つ)んだ。
He picked flowers with rough hands.
彼(かれ)は無骨(ぶこつ)だが心(こころ)は優(やさ)しい。
He's rough around the edges but kind at heart.
無骨(ぶこつ)なデザインの陶器(とうき)が、かえって温(あたた)かみを感(かん)じさせた。
The rugged design of the pottery instead gave a feeling of warmth.

Also written as 武骨(ぶこつ). Originally meant lacking in social graces or manners, but in modern usage it often carries a positive nuance of rugged authenticity or unpretentious simplicity. Frequently used to describe men, handmade objects, or functional designs that prioritize substance over style.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 無骨(ぶこつ)な男(おとこ): rough, rugged man
  • 無骨(ぶこつ)な手(て): rough, work-worn hands
  • 無骨(ぶこつ)な作(つく)り: rough construction/design
  • 無骨(ぶこつ)な器(うつわ): rustic vessel/pottery

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 粗野(そや): uncouth, coarse — more negative, implying rudeness
  • 素朴(そぼく): simple, unsophisticated — more positive, suggesting natural charm
  • 不器用(ぶきよう): clumsy, awkward — focuses on lack of skill rather than roughness
  • 豪快(ごうかい): bold, hearty — similar rugged quality but with more dynamism
general
Added 2026.4.2 10:36
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