How to say "indifferent" in Japanese

• 淡々たんたんCommon
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Covers 'indifferent' as dispassionate: doing or saying something in a flat, unemotional, matter-of-fact way. Fits someone who reports events or carries on with a task calmly, without excitement or visible feeling.
  彼かれは他人たにんの苦くるしみに対たいして淡淡たんたんだ。↗

  He is indifferent to the suffering of others.
• 冷淡れいたんJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'indifferent' as cold toward people: an unresponsive, half-hearted attitude that feels chilly. Typical when someone meets a request, a greeting, or another person's feelings with cool indifference.
  私の演説えんぜつは冷淡れいたんな沈黙ちんもくで迎むかえられた。↗

  My speech was greeted with cold silence.
• 無関心むかんしんCommon
  na-adjective, nounThe closest match for 'indifferent' meaning showing no interest or concern in something. Describes an apathetic stance toward politics, other people's troubles, and the like, one that can come across as callous.
  スーザンは政治せいじに無関心むかんしんである。↗

  Susan is indifferent to politics.
• どうでもいいCommon
  expression, i-adjective (よい/いい)Covers 'indifferent' in the sense 'it doesn't matter, I don't care': the speaker dismisses a thing as trivial or not worth worrying about. Usually written in kana alone.
  君きみが来くるかどうかは私にとってはどうでもよいことだ。↗

  It does not matter to me whether you come or not.
• 平気へいきJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounMatches 'indifferent' only through its 'unconcerned' sense: it really means calm, composed, unbothered. Use it when someone stays unfazed by something that would upset others, rather than for lack of interest.
  彼かれは平気へいきでうそをつく。↗

  He has no scruples about lying.

Choose 淡々 for a dispassionate manner, 冷淡 for coldness toward people, 無関心 for lack of interest or concern, 「どうでもいい」 for 'it doesn't matter to me', and 平気 for being calm and unbothered.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 淡々たんたんuninterested
• 冷淡れいたんcool
• 無関心むかんしんapathetic
• どうでもいいinconsequential
• 平気へいきcool
• 無縁むえんunrelated
• 何気ないなにげないcasual
• 気のないきのないindifferent
• 頓着ないとんじゃくないindifferent
• 無頓着むとんちゃくindifferent
• 目もくれないめもくれないindifferent
• 冷然れいぜんcold (attitude)
• 超然ちょうぜんdetached
• つれないcold
• 恬淡てんたんdisinterested
• 恬然てんぜんcool
• さあらぬcasual
• 傍観的ぼうかんてきhands-off
• 微温的びおんてきlukewarm
• どうだっていいinconsequential
• 冷ややかひややかcold (attitude, stare, etc.)
• 冷たいつめたい(emotionally) cold
• 淡白たんぱくfrank
• 気がないきがないindifferent
• 無感覚むかんかくapathetic
• 冷々れいれいunconcerned
• 曲がないきょくがないunsociable
• 塩しおcold