そっけない

そ

っ

け

な

い

JLPTN1

Meanings

1

i-adjective

cold; curt; blunt; short

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person's attitude or reply that is unfriendly, dismissive, or lacking warmth. Often used for brief, indifferent responses.

彼かれはそっけない返へん事じをした。
He gave a curt reply.

店てん員いんの態たい度どがそっけなくて、がっかりした。

The clerk's attitude was cold, and I was disappointed.

Written forms

そっけないUsage61%
Kana spelling is standard; usually written in kana.
素そっ気けないUsage28%
Kanji form seen in print; the reading そっけない is standard for this spelling.
素そっ気けないUsage7%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana variant; the reading remains そっけない.
素そっ気け無ないUsage4%
Variant kanji form using 無い; less common than 素っ気ない.
素そっ気け無ない
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana variant with 無い; the reading remains そっけない.

Kanji

素elementary, principle, naked
気spirit, mind, air
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

冷つめたい
冷たい is a broader word for cold temperature or a cold personality; そっけない specifically describes a brusque, dismissive manner in interaction.
無ぶ愛あい想そう
無愛想 means unsociable or blunt in a more general sense; そっけない focuses on a specific instance of cold, short behavior.

Etymology

Derived from 素っ気 (sokke, 'coldness, indifference') + ない (negative adjective ending). The exact origin of 素っ気 is uncertain, but it may be related to 素 (su, 'bare, unadorned') with an emphatic geminate consonant.