まずい

ま

ず

い

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

i-adjective

bad-tasting; unpalatable; awful

usually written using kana alone

Describes food or drink that tastes bad. Also used figuratively for an unpleasant situation.

i-adjective

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a lack of skill or poor quality in performance. Occasionally written as 拙い.

まずいUsage82%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
マズイUsage7%
search-only kana form
不味まずいUsage7%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Kanji form using gikun reading; rarely used in practice.
マズいUsage4%
search-only kana form

拙つたない
More formal and literary than まずい for 'poor' or 'unskillful'; まずい is the everyday word.
気きまずい
Specifically means 'awkward' or 'uncomfortable' in social situations; derived from まずい.

The origin is uncertain. The kanji spelling 不味い is a gikun (meaning-based reading) and not etymological.