Translation guide
Describes someone who is impolite, disrespectful, or lacking in manners. Japanese has many nuanced terms depending on the type of rudeness, from mild impoliteness to outright boorishness.
To refer to someone who lacks basic manners or is discourteous in everyday situations.
Similar to 失礼な人 but slightly more formal or literary. '無礼' means discourtesy or insolence.
そんな無礼な人とは話したくない。
I don't want to talk to such a rude person.
Refers to someone who is ill-mannered or breaches etiquette. '不作法' implies a lack of proper decorum.
不作法な人は嫌われる。
Ill-mannered people are disliked.
To describe someone who is not just impolite but also rough, vulgar, or lacking refinement.
Describes a person who is boorish, uncouth, or tactless. Often used for someone who lacks sophistication or says inappropriate things.
彼は野暮な人で、空気が読めない。
He is a boorish person who can't read the room.
Means a coarse, rough, or vulgar person. '粗野' implies a lack of polish and can refer to crude behavior or speech.
粗野な人は周りを不快にさせる。
A coarse person makes others uncomfortable.
Colloquial term for someone who is rough, crude, or insensitive. Often used for someone who is clumsy in social interactions.
がさつな人だけど、悪気はないんだ。
He's a rough person, but he means no harm.
To describe someone who is rude in a way that shows disrespect for authority, elders, or social hierarchy.
Commonly used for someone who is cheeky, impertinent, or full of themselves, especially a younger person or subordinate.
あの新人は生意気な人だ。
That new employee is an impertinent person.
A more formal term for an arrogant or insolent person. '不遜' implies haughtiness and disrespect.
彼の不遜な態度は許せない。
I can't forgive his insolent attitude.
Describes someone who is shamelessly impudent or pushy. '図々しい' means thick-skinned or brazen.
図々しい人だね、よくそんなことが言えるね。
What a brazen person, how can you say such a thing?
To focus on verbal rudeness, such as using harsh words, insults, or a disrespectful tone.
Literally 'person with a bad mouth'. Refers to someone who speaks harshly, bluntly, or offensively.
彼女は口が悪い人だけど、本当は優しい。
She is a person with a sharp tongue, but she's actually kind.
Means a person who uses abusive language or verbal abuse. '暴言' means insult or abusive language.
暴言を吐く人とは距離を置いたほうがいい。
It's better to keep distance from people who use abusive language.
Refers to someone with a sharp, caustic, or venomous tongue. Often used for comedians or critics, but can be negative.
彼は毒舌な人で、よく人を傷つける。
He is a sharp-tongued person who often hurts others.
In Japanese, directly calling someone '失礼な人' can itself be considered rude or confrontational. Often, it's more natural to describe the behavior rather than label the person, e.g., '失礼なことを言う' (says rude things).
失礼 is the most common and general term for rudeness. 無礼 is stronger and more formal, implying insolence. 不作法 focuses on breach of etiquette and is less about attitude and more about manners.