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ふてぶてしい Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ふてぶてしい

ふ

て

ぶ

て

し

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

impudent; brazen; shameless

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person or attitude that is unapologetically bold, often in a negative way, showing no shame or fear of consequences.

彼かれのふてぶてしい態たい度どには呆あきれた。
I was appalled by his impudent attitude.

あの子こは叱しかられてもふてぶてしい顔かおをしている。

That kid has a brazen look even when scolded.

Written forms

ふてぶてしいUsage93%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms are rare or search-only.
太々ふてぶてしいUsage7%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
太太ふてぶてしい
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

太plump, thick, big around

Similar words

図ずう々ずうしい
図々しい emphasizes pushiness or being overly forward, while ふてぶてしい focuses on shameless boldness and defiance.
厚あつかましい
厚かましい implies a lack of consideration for others, often in making requests; ふてぶてしい is more about a defiant, unrepentant attitude.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the old adverb ふて (meaning 'boldly' or 'impudently') reduplicated and adjectivized, but the exact derivation is unclear.