抜(ぬ)け目(め)ない

ぬけめない

i-adjective

shrewd; sharp; never missing a chance

Conjugation

	Affirmative	Negative
Present	抜(ぬ)け目(め)ない	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なくない
Past	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なかった	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なくなかった
て form	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なくて	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なくなくて
Adverbial	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なく	—
Conditional ば	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なければ	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なくなければ
Conditional たら	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なかったら	抜(ぬ)け目(め)なくなかったら

1. shrewd; sharp; never missing a chance

Quick to notice and take every opportunity for gain; often with a hint of calculation.

抜(ぬ)け目(め)ない人(ひと)だ。

He's a shrewd one.

彼女(かのじょ)は商売(しょうばい)に抜(ぬ)け目(め)ない。

She is shrewd in business.

抜(ぬ)け目(め)なく上司(じょうし)の好(この)みを調(しら)べてから、企画(きかく)を提案(ていあん)した。

She shrewdly found out what her boss liked before pitching the plan.

Literally "without gaps": 抜(ぬ)け目(め) is an oversight or opening. Also said as 抜(ぬ)け目(め)がない. Usually admiring, but it can suggest someone who looks out only for themselves.

Common patterns

〜に抜(ぬ)け目(め)ない: shrewd about ~ (商売(しょうばい)に, お金(かね)に)
抜(ぬ)け目(め)なく + verb: shrewdly, missing nothing

Similar words

ちゃっかり: cheekily taking advantage; lighter and more casual
抜(ぬ)かりない: leaving nothing out; about careful preparation rather than gain

Related Words

Compare: ちゃっかり (cheekily taking advantage)

general

Added 2026.10.2 22:50 · Revised 2026.10.2 22:51

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