1.
lack of self-awareness; obliviousness; being unconscious of one's own behavior, condition, or impact
The state of not being aware of one's own actions, condition, or the effect one has on others. Often used critically, implying that someone should be aware but isn't — they are unaware of a problem they are causing or a situation they are in.
本人は無自覚だ。
The person themselves is unaware.
無自覚に人を傷つけることがある。
One can hurt others without being aware of it.
自分の言動が周りに与える影響に無自覚な人は多い。
Many people are unaware of the impact their words and actions have on those around them.
Combines 無 (without, lacking) and 自覚 (self-awareness, consciousness). The 無 prefix negates 自覚, producing a word that means the absence of awareness about oneself.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 無自覚に: unconsciously, without awareness
- 無自覚な行動: unaware behavior
- 無自覚のまま: while remaining unaware
- 本人は無自覚: the person is unaware (of what they're doing)
USAGE:
Often used in a critical or observational tone — pointing out that someone is doing something problematic without realizing it. Common in discussions of social behavior, health (being unaware of a medical condition), and self-improvement. Can function as a noun (無自覚), as an adjectival modifier with な (無自覚な), or adverbially with に (無自覚に).
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 自覚: self-awareness — the positive counterpart; being conscious of one's own state or actions
- 無意識: unconscious — refers to actions done without conscious thought (automatic behavior), or the psychological unconscious
- 鈍感: insensitive, thick-skinned — describes a personality trait of not noticing things, whereas 無自覚 specifically means lacking self-awareness