どんくさい

ど

ん

く

さ

い

Meanings

1

i-adjective

slow; clumsy; dim-witted

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person who is physically slow or clumsy, or mentally slow/dim-witted. Often used in casual, mildly derogatory contexts.

彼かれはどんくさいから、よく物ものを落おとす。
He's clumsy, so he often drops things.

あの子こはどんくさくて、説せつ明めいしてもなかなか理り解かいできない。

That kid is slow-witted and can't understand even after you explain it.

Written forms

鈍どんくさい
Kanji spelling using 鈍 (dull/slow); less common but still encountered.
鈍どん臭くさい
Kanji spelling using 臭 (smell); less common but still encountered.

Kanji

鈍dull, slow, foolish
臭stinking, ill-smelling, suspicious looking

Similar words

鈍にぶい
鈍い is a more standard, neutral adjective for 'dull' or 'slow' (physically or mentally), while どんくさい is more colloquial and carries a stronger nuance of clumsiness or stupidity.
のろい
のろい emphasizes slowness in movement or action, whereas どんくさい includes a sense of clumsiness or lack of dexterity.

Etymology

Derived from どん (onomatopoeic for dullness or slowness) + くさい (-like, smacks of). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely developed as a colloquial, expressive term.