不足

• Reading: ふそく
• Romaji: fusoku
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu/bu) — not, un-; 足 (soku/ashi/ta) — foot, sufficient
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.so.kɯ/

Meaning

Insufficiency; shortage; lack; deficit. A state where something falls short of what is needed.

A noun, na-adjective, and suru-verb (不足する = to be insufficient). The prefix 不 (fu) negates 足 (soku, enough/sufficient). Very common in compounds: 睡眠不足 (suimin busoku, sleep deprivation), 人手不足 (hitode busoku, labour shortage), 運動不足 (undou busoku, lack of exercise).

Examples

1. 最近、運動不足で体重が増えました。 Lately, I've gained weight from lack of exercise.
2. このプロジェクトは人手が不足しています。 This project is short on manpower.
3. 睡眠不足だと集中できなくなります。 When you're sleep-deprived, you can't concentrate.

Usage Guide

Context: health, work, resources

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (fu, not/un-) and 足 (soku, sufficient/enough). Literally means not sufficient — a shortfall or deficiency.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal