おぼつかない

• 読み: おぼつかない
• ローマ字: obotsukanai
• 発音: /o.bo.tsɯ.ka.na.i/

意味

Uncertain; unsteady; unreliable; doubtful. Describes something that inspires little confidence because of its wavering, shaky quality.

An i-adjective used to describe both physical unsteadiness (足元がおぼつかない — unsteady on one's feet) and cognitive or situational uncertainty (記憶がおぼつかない — hazy, unreliable memory). It implies that the subject lacks the firmness or clarity needed for confident action. More literary and formal than 不安定 (unstable). Also written in kanji as 覚束ない.

例文

1. 久しぶりのスキーで足元がおぼつかなく、何度も転んでしまった。
2. 彼の説明はどこかおぼつかなく、聴衆の間に不安が広がった。
3. 記憶がおぼつかないまま証言するのは危険だと、弁護士は強く忠告した。

使い方ガイド

場面: physical description, memory, reliability, literature

トーン: doubtful

起源と歴史

Of uncertain etymology; appears in classical Japanese literature as a compound expressing vagueness or unreliability. The おぼ- component may relate to おぼろ (dim, hazy), reinforcing the sense of lack of clarity.

文化的背景

時代: Classical to Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal