How to say "mediocre" in Japanese

• 凡庸ぼんようCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers the critical sense of 'mediocre': lacking talent, distinction, or originality, close to 'banal'. It passes a judgment that something falls short, so it suits evaluating a person's ability or a work's quality.
• 平凡へいぼんJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounLeads with the sense 'ordinary, commonplace': unremarkable, without anything special, often with little judgment attached. Its 'mediocre' sense is this mild one; for pointed criticism of ability or quality, 凡庸 is the word.
  その模様もようの色いろは実じつに平凡へいぼんなものである。↗

  The colors of the pattern are very ordinary.

Use 平凡 for the neutral 'ordinary, unremarkable' sense, and 凡庸 when 'mediocre' is a criticism — lacking talent, distinction, or originality, close to 'banal'; the two overlap, but 凡庸 carries the sharper judgment.

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

• 凡庸ぼんようmediocre
• 平凡へいぼんordinary
• 生半なまなかhalfway-done
• 尋常一様じんじょういちようordinary
• 平々凡々へいへいぼんぼんvery ordinary
• パッとしないunimpressive
• あまりnot very good