屈託

• Reading: くったく
• Romaji: kuttaku
• Kanji breakdown: 屈 (kutsu) — bend, submit; 託 (taku) — entrust, place upon
• Pronunciation: /kɯt.ta.kɯ/

Meaning

Worry; care; concern; dejection. A weight on the mind from accumulated anxieties or cares, often resulting in a subdued or downcast demeanour.

A noun most frequently seen in its negated form: 屈託のない/屈託なく, meaning 'carefree' or 'without a worry in the world.' This usage is far more common than the positive form and has a warm, affectionate connotation — often describing a person's open, unclouded smile or manner. The positive form (having 屈託) suggests a person weighed down by private concerns.

Examples

1. 彼女はいつも屈託のない笑顔で接してくれる。 She always greets me with a carefree, worry-free smile.
2. 長い病床生活で屈託が積み重なっていった。 During his long confinement to bed, worries piled up one after another.
3. 屈託なく話す彼の姿に、周りも自然と和んだ。 His lighthearted way of talking naturally put everyone around him at ease.

Usage Guide

Context: literary writing, character description, everyday speech

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

From 屈 (kutsu) meaning 'to bend' or 'to be suppressed' and 託 (taku) meaning 'to entrust' or 'to place on.' The combination suggests cares that weigh heavily upon the mind, bending the spirit under their burden.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal