不器用・無器用|ぶきようbukiyou[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. na-adjective, nounclumsy; awkward; unskillful
2. na-adjective, nounincompetent; inept; bungling; (socially) awkward; gawky; gauche

• SynonymぎこちないNeutralStiff and unnatural in movement or speech; the focus is on lack of smoothness, while 「不器用」 points to unskillful hands or poor social skills.
• Synonym下手へたNeutralThe most common everyday word for being bad at something; it stresses poor technique or skill rather than clumsy hands or social awkwardness.
• Synonym不手際ふてぎわNeutralSaid of handling a matter badly or dealing with it poorly; it stresses poor handling of a task, not clumsiness of hand or manner.
• SynonymつたないWrittenA written, formal word for poor, unskillful work, as in 「拙い文章」; used to be modest about one's own work or to judge that of others.
• Related未熟みじゅくNeutralMeans immature or inexperienced; it stresses insufficient training or ripening rather than clumsiness of hand.
• Related不自然ふしぜんNeutralMeans unnatural or affected; it stresses a sense of something being off or contrived, not a lack of skill.
• RelatedへたくそCasualColloquial and rough in tone; means extremely lousy, as in 「料理が下手くそだ」. Can be used to criticize others or to mock oneself.
• RelatedぶさいくCasualColloquial; describes ugly looks or crude workmanship, and is mostly said of a person's appearance rather than of skill.
• Related不格好ぶかっこうNeutralFocuses on looks: an ugly, ill-proportioned or awkward shape or appearance, rather than a lack of skill.
• Related無様ぶざまNeutralDescribes an unsightly, disgraceful showing — making a spectacle of oneself; the emphasis is on how bad it looks.
• Relatedかっこ悪いかっこわるいCasualColloquial; means uncool or embarrassing, and targets looks or image rather than skill with one's hands.
• RelatedへぼCasualColloquial and contemptuous: a hopelessly inept person, or inferior crops or goods.
• Antonym器用きようNeutralThe antonym: skillful and dexterous with the hands — the direct opposite of clumsy 「不器用」.
• Antonym手際よいNeutralThe antonym: quick, deft and efficient at getting things done — the opposite of 「不器用」.

Use 「不器用」 for clumsy hands, lack of dexterity, or social awkwardness, as in 「手先が不器用」「不器用な生き方」. For being bad at something say 「下手」; for stiff, awkward movement 「ぎこちない」; for handling a matter badly 「不手際」. The antonym is 「器用」.

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

1. 手先てさきでする業ごうがまずいこと。またその様子ようす。
2. 物事ものごとの処理しょりが下手へたなこと。またその様子ようす。
3. 道理どうりにはずれていること。卑劣ひれつなこと。またその様子ようす。