図太い

• Reading: ずぶとい
• Romaji: zubutoi
• Kanji breakdown: 図 (zu) — used phonetically; 太 (futo/ta) — thick, bold
• Pronunciation: /zɯ.bɯ.to.i/

Meaning

Bold; thick-skinned; brazen; impervious to embarrassment. Describes a person who remains unshaken by criticism, social pressure, or humiliation.

An i-adjective similar to 図々しい but often carrying a degree of grudging admiration for mental toughness alongside the reproach. 図太い神経 (thick nerves) is the defining collocation, sometimes used admiringly of someone who stays composed under fire. Whether the tone is critical or complimentary depends entirely on context. A 図太い人 may be seen as shamelessly self-interested or admirably resilient.

Examples

1. 失敗を笑い飛ばすあの図太い神経には、正直なところ羨ましさすら覚える。 Honestly, I can't help but feel a twinge of envy at that thick-skinned nerve of his — laughing off failure like it's nothing.
2. 厳しい批判を受けても動じない彼の図太さが、結果的にプロジェクトを救ったとも言える。 You could say it was precisely his unshakeable composure in the face of harsh criticism that ultimately saved the project.
3. あれほど叱られて平然としているとは、かなり図太い人間だ。 To stay completely unfazed after being scolded that severely — he really is a remarkably thick-skinned person.

Usage Guide

Context: character assessment, workplace, admiration, criticism

Tone: mixed

Origin & History

Compound of 図 (zu, used phonetically) and 太い (futoi, thick/bold). The image is of someone with nerves so thick that embarrassment and shame simply cannot penetrate them. Attested from the Meiji era onward.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal