不甲斐ない

• 読み: ふがいない
• ローマ字: fugainai
• 漢字の分解: 不 (fu) — negation; 甲斐 (gai) — worth, effect
• 発音: /ɸɯɡainai/

意味

Pathetic; spineless; disappointing; falling short of what is expected of oneself.

An i-adjective expressing shame or self-reproach at failing to live up to one's own standards or others' expectations. It is often used in first-person self-criticism (不甲斐ない自分) or by those expressing disappointment in someone they care about. The tone is rueful rather than contemptuous.

例文

1. こんな結果しか出せない自分が不甲斐なかった。
2. 子どもに心配をかけてしまい、不甲斐ない親だと痛感した。
3. あれほど練習したのに決勝で負けてしまい、不甲斐なさで胸が痛んだ。

使い方ガイド

場面: self-reflection, sports, parenting, work

トーン: self-critical

起源と歴史

Composed of 不 (not) and 甲斐 (worth, effect, result) plus the adjective ending ない. 甲斐 itself derives from 甲斐がある (to be worth doing, to be effective). The compound literally means without worth or effect — yielding no result commensurate with effort.

文化的背景

時代: Classical–Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal