不作法・無作法|ぶさほうbusahou[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
無作法無作法 is the more common written form and the preferred choice for beginners when writing this word.
不作法不作法 is a less common written variant of 無作法. You may encounter it in writing, but beginners should generally choose 無作法 instead.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nounill-mannered; rude
Conjugation
| Plain form | 不作法（ぶさほう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 不作法です（ぶさほうです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 不作法ではない（ぶさほうではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 不作法ではありません（ぶさほうではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 不作法だった（ぶさほうだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 不作法ではなかった（ぶさほうではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 不作法で（ぶさほうで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 不作法に（ぶさほうに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 不作法なら（ぶさほうなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym非礼ひれいWrittenWritten/formal prose; a breach of etiquette, and more literary than 「無作法」.
- Synonym無礼ぶれいNeutralRudeness; stresses disrespect toward superiors or elders and hits harder than 「無作法」.
- Synonym失礼しつれいNeutralThe most common everyday choice; covers impoliteness but also works as a courtesy formula. Gentler than 「無作法」.
- Synonym失敬しっけいNeutralCovers rudeness but also serves to apologize or take one's leave, as in 「失敬しました」; slightly dated feel.
- Synonym粗野そやNeutralCoarse and vulgar; stresses rough, low speech and conduct — cruder than 「無作法」.
- Synonym無骨ぶこつNeutralBoorish and unpolished; stiff, artless bearing with no sense of refinement, carrying a rustic, homespun nuance.
- Synonym不躾ぶしつけNeutralPresumptuous and abrupt; highlights not knowing proper manners or speaking up suddenly, often in 「不躾なお願い」. Leans more toward words and speech than 「無作法」.
- Synonym不行儀ふぎょうぎNeutralNot keeping to the rules; describes behavior that falls short of etiquette. Very close in sense to 「無作法」.
- Synonym無遠慮ぶえんりょNeutralUnreserved; about an attitude of acting freely with no restraint whatsoever, and more brazen than 「無作法」.
- Related傍若無人ぼうじゃくぶじんWrittenWritten/formal prose; acting wildly as if no one were around, with no regard for others — a stronger charge than 「無作法」.
- RelatedそっけないCasualColloquial; a cold, curt attitude that does not necessarily breach etiquette.
- Related伝法でんぽうCasualColloquial; brazen, rough behavior, or freeloading — eating or sightseeing without paying; carries a streetwise, roguish flavor.
- RelatedすげないNeutralSame word listed again: cold and dismissive, giving people the brush-off; a matter of attitude rather than etiquette.
- Relatedにべも無いにべもないCasualColloquial; a stone-cold manner or reply with no warmth at all, typically for turning someone down.
- Related亡状ぼうじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose but rare: discourtesy, disregard for propriety; almost never seen in actual use.
- Related僭越せんえつWrittenWritten/formal prose; overstepping one's station, and often used humbly about one's own audacity.
- Related推参すいさんWrittenWritten/formal prose with an old-fashioned air; calling on someone uninvited.
- Antonym丁寧ていねいNeutralAntonym: polite and attentive in every detail; the opposite of etiquette-ignoring 「無作法」.
- Antonym礼儀正しいれいぎただしいNeutralAntonym: well-mannered and properly courteous — the very opposite of manners-lacking 「無作法」.
Use 「無作法」 for not knowing manners or etiquette and behaving rudely, as in 「無作法な振る舞い」 or 「無作法者」. In daily conversation say 「失礼」; when the tone should be heavier, 「無礼」; for a presumptuous request, 「不躾」. The opposites are 「礼儀正しい」 and 「丁寧」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
