手ぬるい

• 読み: てぬるい
• ローマ字: tenurui
• 漢字の分解: 手 (te) — hand, method; ぬるい (nurui) — lukewarm, tepid
• 発音: /te.nɯ.ɾɯ.i/

意味

Lenient; lax; half-hearted; lukewarm. Describes a response or measure that is insufficiently strict, decisive, or thorough.

An i-adjective combining 手 (te, hand, method) and ぬるい (nurui, lukewarm, tepid). Just as lukewarm water fails to clean or heat properly, a 手ぬるい response fails to address a problem with sufficient force. Used to criticise light punishments, inadequate countermeasures, and weak management decisions. It carries a clear negative connotation of insufficient rigor.

例文

1. 再犯を繰り返す被告への判決は手ぬるいと世論から批判された。
2. 教師の手ぬるい対応が問題を長引かせてしまった。
3. 危機的な状況なのに、経営陣の対処が手ぬるかった。

使い方ガイド

場面: law, management, education, criticism

トーン: negative

起源と歴史

Compound of 手 (te, hand, method of action) and ぬるい (nurui, tepid, lukewarm). The image of a tepid hand—unable to grip firmly or act decisively—gave rise to the criticism of half-hearted or insufficiently strict measures.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal