鈍い

にぶい
JLPT:N2
Frequency:

1Dull or blunt, as of a blade - lacking sharpness.

I-Adjective

Examples

この包丁は鈍くなったので研がないと。

This kitchen knife has gotten dull, so I need to sharpen it.

鈍い刃物で切ろうとすると力が余計にいる。

Trying to cut with a blunt blade takes extra force.

はさみの刃が鈍くて紙がうまく切れない。

The scissors' blades are dull and can't cut paper well.

2Slow to understand or react; lacking quick wit.

I-Adjective

Examples

彼は鈍いから、皮肉を言っても気づかない。

He's dense, so he doesn't notice even when you're being sarcastic.

私は数字に鈍いので、計算に時間がかかる。

I'm slow with numbers, so calculations take me a long time.

鈍い人だと思われないよう、話をよく聞くようにしている。

I try to listen carefully so I won't be seen as slow-witted.

3Muted or dim - describing sound, light, or color that lacks sharpness or brightness.

I-Adjective

Examples

遠くで鈍い爆発音が聞こえた。

A dull explosion sound could be heard in the distance.

曇り空から鈍い光が差し込んでいた。

A dim light was filtering in through the cloudy sky.

4Slow-moving or sluggish; lacking energy or briskness.

I-Adjective

Examples

疲れがたまっていて、今日は動きが鈍い。

I'm worn out, so my movements are sluggish today.

景気の回復は鈍いペースで進んでいる。

The economic recovery is proceeding at a sluggish pace.

5Lacking sharp senses or sensitivity - slow to notice stimuli or other people's feelings.

I-Adjective

Examples

年を取って痛みに鈍くなった気がする。

I feel like I've become less sensitive to pain as I've aged.

彼は人の気持ちに鈍いところがある。

He can be insensitive to other people's feelings.

Word Relationships

Synonyms
Antonym
Derivations