不幸

• Reading: ふこう
• Romaji: fukou
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — not, un-, negative; 幸 (kou) — happiness, fortune
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.koː/

Meaning

Unhappiness; misfortune; disaster. A state of sorrow or bad luck.

Functions as a noun and na-adjective (不幸な). The prefix 不 negates 幸 (happiness), creating its opposite. Can refer to personal sorrow, bad luck, or even a death in the family — 不幸がある is a common euphemism for a bereavement.

Examples

1. 不幸な出来事が続いている。 Unfortunate events keep happening one after another.
2. 友人の家族に不幸があったそうだ。 I heard there was a death in my friend's family.
3. 彼は不幸にも事故に遭ってしまった。 He unfortunately got into an accident.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, family, formal situations

Tone: somber

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (fu, not/un-) and 幸 (kou, happiness/fortune). A straightforward negation meaning the absence of happiness or good fortune.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal