不能(ふのう)

ふのう
noun
impossibility; -unable; impotence
1. impossibility; impossible; unable
Indicates that something cannot be done or is impossible. Most commonly used as a suffix attached to a noun (especially Sino-Japanese stem) to mean 'un-V-able' or 'impossible to V'.
この機械(きかい)は修理(しゅうり)不能(ふのう)だ。
This machine cannot be repaired.
予測(よそく)不能(ふのう)な事態(じたい)が発生(はっせい)した。
An unpredictable situation arose.
回線(かいせん)トラブルにより、操作(そうさ)が一時(いちじ)不能(ふのう)になっています。
Due to network trouble, operations are temporarily disabled.

Composed of 不(ふ) (not) + 能(のう) (able). Most often used as the second element of a compound to negate a capability. Functions as a na-adjective when modifying a noun (予測(よそく)不能(ふのう)な〜) and as a noun-predicate (修理(しゅうり)不能(ふのう)だ).

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 修理(しゅうり)不能(ふのう): impossible to repair
  • 予測(よそく)不能(ふのう): unpredictable
  • 使用(しよう)不能(ふのう): unusable
  • 再生(さいせい)不能(ふのう): non-renewable; cannot be played back
  • 回復(かいふく)不能(ふのう): irrecoverable
  • 実行(じっこう)不能(ふのう): unworkable; infeasible

GRAMMAR:

  • Noun + 不能(ふのう)な + Noun: an unX-able Y
  • Noun + 不能(ふのう)になる: to become unable; to be disabled

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 不可(ふか): not allowed; impossible — emphasizes prohibition or unfeasibility (使用(しよう)不可(ふか) not permitted to use)
  • 不可能(ふかのう): impossible — stand-alone na-adjective; broader use
  • 困難(こんなん): difficult — implies it is hard but not impossible
general
Added 2026.5.29 12:08
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