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B2 verb #16,000 よく出る 11分で読める

bungling

練習する例文メモとヒント bungling 30秒で

解説 bungling in your Level:

Bungling is a word we use when someone does a job very, very badly. Imagine you are trying to help your mom in the kitchen, but you drop the eggs and spill the milk. That is a little bit like bungling. It means you are not good at the job you are trying to do. It is a big mistake. We use it for people who are clumsy or silly when they work. If a person is bungling, they make many mistakes because they do not know how to do the work. For example, 'The bungling man dropped his keys in the water.' This means he was not careful and he made a bad mistake. It is not a nice word, so be careful when you use it! It tells people that someone is doing a very poor job. You might see this word in stories about funny people who make mistakes.

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At the A2 level, you can think of bungling as a way to describe someone who is very clumsy or bad at a specific task. It is more than just a small error; it is a series of mistakes that happen because the person doesn't have the skill they need. For example, if a thief tries to rob a house but forgets to bring a bag for the money and then trips over a cat, we call him a 'bungling thief.' The word 'bungling' often comes before the person's name or job title. It helps describe their character as someone who fails in a funny or embarrassing way. You will often hear this in cartoons or simple news stories about people making silly mistakes. 'The bungling waiter spilled soup on the king.' This shows the waiter was not good at his job.

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In B1 English, bungling is used to describe an action or a person that is incompetent. It often suggests that a task was handled without the necessary care or expertise. You might use it when talking about a project at school or work that went wrong. If a group of students 'bungles' a presentation, it means they were disorganized and made many obvious errors. It is a great word for adding more detail to your descriptions of failure. Instead of just saying 'he did a bad job,' you can say 'he was bungling the task.' This implies that his lack of skill was the main reason for the failure. It is often found in news reports about minor crimes or administrative errors. It has a slightly critical tone, so it is used when the speaker is frustrated or amused by someone's lack of ability.

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At the B2 level, bungling is a sophisticated way to criticize incompetence, especially in professional or official contexts. It is frequently used as a gerund to describe the mismanagement of a complex situation, such as 'the bungling of the national budget' or 'the bungling of the rescue operation.' It implies that the failure was not just an accident but a result of systemic ineptitude or a lack of professional standards. When you use this word, you are making a strong judgment about the quality of someone's work. It is common in journalism and political commentary. For example, 'The government's bungling of the environmental crisis has led to widespread criticism.' Here, the word emphasizes that the government had the responsibility to act correctly but failed due to poor planning and lack of skill. It is a key word for expressing critical opinions in essays or debates.

For C1 learners, bungling represents a nuanced critique of professional or procedural failure. It is often used to highlight the gap between expected competence and actual performance. In a C1 context, you might discuss the 'bungling of a legal case' or 'the bungling of a diplomatic negotiation.' The word suggests a certain level of amateurism that is particularly galling in a high-stakes environment. It is also used to create a specific tone in literature or high-end journalism—one that is often sardonic or scathing. You should be able to distinguish 'bungling' from 'botching' (which is more about the physical result) and 'blundering' (which is more about a blind, careless error). Using 'bungling' effectively allows you to pinpoint exactly why a situation failed: because the people in charge lacked the necessary dexterity or expertise to handle the complexities involved.

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At the C2 level, you should recognize 'bungling' as a versatile tool for social and political commentary. It often serves to deconstruct the image of authority by highlighting the inherent fallibility and incompetence of institutions. C2 speakers use it to describe the 'maladroit bungling' of intricate systems, where the failure is so comprehensive it becomes almost farcical. The word carries a weight of intellectual disdain. It is not just about the mistake itself, but about the structural or character-based inadequacies that allowed the mistake to happen. You might see it used in complex historical analyses, such as 'the bungling of the 19th-century colonial administration,' where it serves as a summary of decades of poor decision-making. Mastery of this word involves using it to convey a sense of 'ineptitude as a spectacle,' where the failure is so public and so avoidable that it warrants the specific, sharp label of 'bungling.'

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練習する例文メモとヒント

bungling 30秒で

Bungling describes actions that are clumsy, unskilled, and likely to result in a failed or embarrassing outcome due to incompetence.
It is frequently used in news and politics to criticize the mismanagement of high-stakes situations like economies or investigations.
Grammatically, it functions as an adjective (a bungling thief) or a gerund (the bungling of the deal), emphasizing the lack of skill.
While similar to 'clumsy,' bungling specifically focuses on the failure to execute a task correctly rather than just physical awkwardness.

The word bungling is a powerful and evocative term in the English language used to describe actions that are characterized by a lack of skill, competence, or care, often resulting in embarrassing or significant failure. At its core, bungling refers to the process of mishandling a situation so poorly that the outcome is botched or ruined. It is not merely a synonym for making a mistake; rather, it implies a level of clumsiness or ineptitude that could have been avoided with better preparation or expertise. When people use the word bungling, they are often expressing a sense of frustration or ridicule toward the person or entity responsible for the error.

Etymological Root: The term originates from the verb 'bungle,' which likely has Scandinavian roots related to the idea of working clumsily or making a noise while striking something poorly.

In modern usage, bungling is frequently applied to large-scale operations, such as government policies, corporate projects, or complex criminal investigations. For instance, if a police department fails to secure a crime scene properly, leading to the loss of vital evidence, the media will almost certainly describe the situation as a bungling of the investigation. This specific nuance—the combination of high stakes and low performance—is what makes bungling such a sharp critique.

The local council's bungling of the new road project led to months of unnecessary traffic delays and a massive budget overspend.

Beyond professional contexts, bungling can also describe personal mishaps. A bungling waiter might spill soup on a guest, or a bungling DIY enthusiast might accidentally drill through a water pipe. In these cases, the word highlights the physical or cognitive awkwardness of the individual. The word is also deeply embedded in comedic traditions. Many famous comedic characters are defined by their bungling nature—characters who try their best but ultimately fail due to their own lack of coordination or intelligence. This comedic aspect allows the word to be used in a lighthearted way, though in serious journalism, it remains a stinging accusation of professional negligence.

Nuance vs. Clumsy: While 'clumsy' usually refers to physical movement, 'bungling' usually refers to the execution of a plan or task.

The robbers were caught within minutes due to their bungling attempt to disable the alarm system with a hammer.

The IT department's bungling of the server migration resulted in the loss of three years of customer data.

Social Context: In social settings, calling someone bungling can be quite offensive as it directly attacks their ability to perform tasks correctly.

We watched the bungling attempts of the amateur magicians as they repeatedly failed to hide the rabbit.

The diplomat's bungling remarks nearly caused an international incident during the summit.

Using the word bungling correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical versatility as both a present participle (verb form) and an adjective. Most commonly, you will encounter it as an adjective modifying a noun that represents a person or an action. For example, 'a bungling official' or 'a bungling performance.' In these instances, the word serves to qualify the noun by injecting a sense of incompetence.

Adjective Usage: When used as an adjective, it precedes the noun and describes the inherent quality of the person's actions. It characterizes the subject as someone who habitually or currently lacks the skill to succeed.

Another frequent use is as a gerund, where it functions as a noun describing the act itself. You might say, 'The bungling of the rescue mission was criticized by the press.' Here, 'bungling' is the subject or object of the sentence, focusing on the event rather than the person.

The company's bungling of the merger led to a sharp decline in stock value.

When integrating bungling into your writing, consider the level of formality. While it is acceptable in professional reports and journalism, it carries a strong judgmental tone. It is more descriptive and critical than 'mistake' or 'error.' If you want to convey that a failure was not just a random occurrence but a result of poor management or lack of talent, bungling is the perfect choice. You can also use the verb form 'bungle' directly. 'The team bungled the final play of the game.' This is more direct and active. However, 'bungling' as a descriptor often feels more definitive of the person's character or the situation's overall quality.

Collocational Patterns: Bungling is often followed by 'of' when used as a gerund: 'the bungling of [something].' As an adjective, it often pairs with 'incompetent' or 'clumsy' for emphasis.

His bungling attempts at fixing the car only made the engine noise louder.

In creative writing, bungling can be used to create irony or humor. By describing a high-stakes professional as 'bungling,' you immediately establish a character flaw that the reader can recognize.

The spy's bungling behavior in the casino nearly gave away his secret identity.

The bungling of the contract negotiations cost the firm millions in potential revenue.

Grammar Tip: Remember that 'bungling' is the continuous form. If the action is finished and you want to use it as a verb, use 'bungled'.

Through sheer bungling, the manager managed to offend every single employee at the meeting.

You are most likely to encounter the word bungling in the world of news, politics, and professional criticism. It is a favorite term for journalists who want to highlight administrative or logistical failures without using overly technical jargon. In political discourse, opposition parties frequently use the word to attack the sitting government, accusing them of the 'bungling of the economy' or the 'bungling of a public health crisis.' This usage frames the failure as a lack of fundamental competence rather than a difference in ideology.

Media Headlines: 'Police Bungling Leads to Suspect's Release' or 'Bungling Bank Robbers Forget to Bring Bags' are classic examples of how the word is used to grab attention.

In the legal and forensic world, bungling is used to describe procedural errors that jeopardize a case. A lawyer might argue that the bungling of evidence collection makes a fair trial impossible. In this context, the word carries significant weight, as it implies that the systems meant to protect society have failed due to human error.

The documentary detailed the bungling response of the coast guard during the historic shipwreck.

Workplace environments also see their fair share of this word, though it is often used behind closed doors. Employees might whisper about a manager's bungling of a client presentation or the bungling of the office renovation. It serves as a way to vent frustration about perceived incompetence among leadership. In sports commentary, bungling is used to describe players who miss easy opportunities or coaches who make baffling strategic decisions. A commentator might shout, 'What a bungling attempt at a goal!' when a striker misses an open net. This captures the essence of the word: a failure that seems almost impossible given the expected level of skill.

Cinematic Tropes: The 'bungling sidekick' is a common character archetype in films, providing comic relief through their constant mistakes.

Critics slammed the director for his bungling of the film's complex plot, calling it a confusing mess.

The bungling of the software update caused computers across the globe to crash simultaneously.

The thief's bungling escape involved him getting stuck in the very window he used to enter.

Academic Context: In history, scholars might analyze the 'bungling' of a war effort by a specific general, looking at how poor decisions led to defeat.

The bungling of the peace treaty negotiations led to another decade of regional conflict.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is using bungling as a general synonym for any kind of mistake. However, bungling is specific to mistakes caused by incompetence or lack of skill in a task that requires it. For example, if you accidentally drop a glass because it was slippery, that is an accident. If you drop a glass because you were trying to juggle three of them without knowing how, that is bungling.

Confusion with 'Clumsy': People often use 'clumsy' and 'bungling' interchangeably. While related, 'clumsy' is usually a physical trait (tripping, dropping things), whereas 'bungling' is more about the failure of a process or a job (mismanaging a project).

Another mistake is the incorrect grammatical placement. Since bungling ends in '-ing,' some students treat it only as a verb. They might say 'He was bungling the box,' but it is much more natural and common to use it as an adjective ('The bungling mover dropped the box') or a gerund ('The bungling of the move was expensive').

Correct: The bungling of the tax forms led to a heavy fine. Incorrect: I made a bungling on my homework.

Learners also sometimes confuse 'bungling' with 'blundering.' While very similar, 'blundering' often implies a blind or careless mistake—like walking into a wall or making a social gaffe—whereas 'bungling' implies a more active, though failed, attempt to do something complex. There is also the issue of tone. Bungling is a quite harsh word. If you use it to describe a friend's small mistake, it might come across as more insulting than you intended. It suggests they are fundamentally bad at what they are doing.

Overuse in Formal Writing: In very formal academic papers, 'bungling' might be seen as too emotional or subjective. Words like 'inefficiency' or 'mismanagement' are often preferred unless the writer intends to be provocative.

The bungling of the crime scene by the first responders made it impossible to find the perpetrator's DNA.

His bungling attempt to cook a five-course meal ended with him ordering pizza for the guests.

The bungling of the secret mission was so complete that the agents were caught before they even left the airport.

Register Check: Is it too informal? Not necessarily, but it is highly critical. Use it when you want to emphasize failure due to incompetence.

The bungling of the vaccine rollout led to widespread public anger and political protests.

When you want to describe a failure but 'bungling' doesn't quite fit the tone, there are several alternatives that offer different shades of meaning. Understanding these nuances is key to reaching a C1 or C2 level of English proficiency.

Botched: 'Botched' is very similar but focuses more on the physical result of the bad work. You 'botch' a repair or a surgery. It implies the final product is broken or poorly made.

'Inept' is another common alternative. While 'bungling' describes the action, 'inept' describes the person's permanent state of being unskilled. A bungling person might just be having a bad day, but an inept person lacks the ability entirely.

The bungling mechanic couldn't even find the oil cap, showing just how inept he really was.

'Maladroit' is a more sophisticated, French-origin word that specifically targets physical or social awkwardness. It is more formal than bungling and is often used in literary contexts. 'Ham-fisted' is a more colorful, idiomatic way to say bungling, suggesting that the person is as clumsy as if they had hams for hands. 'Blundering' is often used when the mistake is caused by a lack of awareness. A blundering giant knocks over trees because he isn't looking. A bungling giant knocks over trees because he is trying to prune them but doesn't know how to use the shears.

Comparison Table: Bungling: Incompetent execution. Blundering: Careless or blind error. Botched: Ruined physical outcome. Inept: General lack of skill.

The bungling of the evidence was described by the judge as a 'maladroit display of professional negligence.'

The team's bungling performance was a stark contrast to their opponent's adroit handling of the ball.

The bungling of the interview by the nervous candidate made it clear she wasn't ready for the role.

Positive Antonyms: The opposite of bungling is adroit, skillful, expert, or proficient. These words describe someone who handles a situation with grace and efficiency.

Instead of the bungling we expected, the new manager showed an adroit ability to solve every problem.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

The word 'bungle' might be related to the word 'bang,' suggesting that the original 'bunglers' were people who made a lot of noise while failing at their tasks.

発音ガイド

UK /ˈbʌŋ.ɡlɪŋ/

US /ˈbʌŋ.ɡlɪŋ/

The primary stress is on the first syllable: BUNG-ling.

韻が合う語

jungling singling tingling mingling jingling shingling bunging clinging

よくある間違い

Pronouncing it as 'bun-gling' with a hard 'n' sound instead of the nasal 'ng'.
Confusing the 'u' sound with an 'oo' sound (boong-ling).
Dropping the 'g' sound in the middle (bun-ling).
Putting the stress on the second syllable (bung-LING).
Mumbling the 'ing' ending.

難易度

読解 3/5

Common in news and literature, but requires understanding of nuance.

ライティング 4/5

Requires careful placement as an adjective or gerund.

スピーキング 3/5

Easy to pronounce but must be used with the correct tone.

リスニング 2/5

Distinct sound makes it easy to recognize in speech.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

mistake clumsy bad fail simple

次に学ぶ

inept maladroit botched incompetence negligence

上級

farcical lamentable egregious ham-fisted quixotic

知っておくべき文法

Present Participle as Adjective

The bungling (adjective) thief (noun) was caught.

Gerund as Subject

Bungling (gerund) is not an option for this mission.

Verb Tense Consistency

He was bungling the job while his boss watched.

Adverbial Modification

The project was bunglingly executed (rare but correct).

Passive Voice with Gerund

The bungling of the deal was noticed by everyone.

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レベル別の例文

The bungling boy dropped his ice cream.

The boy who was very clumsy dropped his ice cream.

Bungling is an adjective here.

A bungling man lost his hat in the wind.

A clumsy man's hat flew away.

Used before a noun.

The bungling cook burnt the toast.

The bad cook made the toast black.

Describes the person's skill level.

He is a bungling worker.

He is not good at his job.

Predicate adjective use.

The bungling dog fell into the pool.

The clumsy dog fell in the water.

Can describe animals too.

Stop bungling the game!

Stop making bad mistakes in the game.

Present participle as an action.

The bungling girl broke the toy.

The clumsy girl broke the toy.

Adjective modifying 'girl'.

I saw a bungling person fall down.

I saw a clumsy person trip.

Simple adjective use.

The bungling thief forgot his mask.

The clumsy robber did not bring his face cover.

Classic 'bungling thief' trope.

We laughed at the bungling actors.

The actors made many mistakes and it was funny.

Plural noun modification.

The bungling of the party was a disaster.

The way they planned the party was very bad.

Gerund used as a noun.

He made a bungling attempt to fix the door.

He tried to fix the door but did it badly.

Modifying the noun 'attempt'.

The bungling waiter dropped the glasses.

The unskilled waiter broke the cups.

Describes professional incompetence.

It was a bungling mistake.

It was a very silly and bad mistake.

Emphasizes the nature of the mistake.

They are bungling the simple task.

They are doing the easy job very badly.

Present continuous verb.

A bungling driver hit the sign.

A bad driver crashed into a street sign.

Adjective use.

The bungling of the investigation led to no arrests.

Because the police were incompetent, they caught no one.

Gerund as the subject.

I am tired of your bungling efforts.

I am annoyed by your unskilled attempts.

Adjective modifying 'efforts'.

The bungling intern deleted the important file.

The unskilled worker erased the data by mistake.

Specific professional context.

She criticized the bungling of the new policy.

She said the new rules were managed very poorly.

Object of the verb 'criticized'.

The team's bungling cost them the championship.

The team's bad play caused them to lose.

Possessive noun + gerund.

It was a bungling performance from start to finish.

The whole show was full of mistakes.

Adjective phrase.

He is known for his bungling approach to problems.

He always solves things in a clumsy way.

Characterizes a person's style.

The bungling of the orders caused a delay.

The bad management of the requests made things late.

Gerund usage.

The government's bungling of the crisis was evident to all.

Everyone could see the government was incompetent during the crisis.

Highly common political usage.

We cannot afford any more bungling by the management.

We don't want the bosses to make any more bad mistakes.

Noun use after 'any more'.

The bungling of the contract negotiations was a major setback.

The failure to handle the contract properly was a big problem.

Formal business context.

He was a bungling administrator who ignored basic rules.

He was a bad boss who didn't follow the law.

Adjective modifying 'administrator'.

Through sheer bungling, the company lost its best client.

Only because of incompetence did the company lose the client.

Prepositional phrase 'through sheer bungling'.

The bungling of the technology launch hurt the brand.

The bad way they released the new tech damaged their reputation.

Gerund as subject.

Critics highlighted the bungling of the film's second act.

Reviewers pointed out the bad writing in the middle of the movie.

Artistic criticism.

Her bungling attempt at a speech made the audience cringe.

Her unskilled speech was embarrassing to watch.

Describes social awkwardness.

The systemic bungling of the intelligence reports led to the disaster.

The failure of the whole system to handle reports caused the event.

Modifies 'bungling' with 'systemic'.

He dismissed the accusations as the result of bungling rather than malice.

He said it was just incompetence, not a plan to be mean.

Contrasts incompetence with intent.

The bungling of the forensic evidence made a conviction impossible.

The bad handling of the clues meant they couldn't prove the crime.

Legal/Scientific context.

The play was a satire of the bungling bureaucracy of the 1970s.

The play made fun of the incompetent government systems.

Historical/Literary context.

One more bungling move and he will be asked to resign.

If he makes one more incompetent mistake, he will lose his job.

Adjective modifying 'move'.

The sheer scale of the bungling was unprecedented in the industry.

No one had ever seen such a huge level of incompetence before.

Abstract noun use.

Despite their bungling start, the team managed to win.

They started very badly, but they still won.

Adjective modifying 'start'.

The bungling of the takeover bid cost the shareholders dearly.

The bad management of the company purchase hurt the investors.

Financial context.

The historical record is replete with examples of administrative bungling.

History is full of cases where governments were incompetent.

Academic register.

To call it a mistake is too kind; it was a masterclass in bungling.

It wasn't just an error; it was the perfect example of doing things wrong.

Ironical/Sardonic usage.

The bungling of the environmental regulations has had catastrophic effects.

The incompetent management of nature laws caused a disaster.

Serious social critique.

There is a fine line between strategic risk and outright bungling.

It is hard to tell if it was a brave plan or just stupidity.

Philosophical/Strategic context.

The diplomat's bungling of the delicate situation was beyond repair.

The official made such a bad mess that it could not be fixed.

High-stakes context.

The narrative explores the bungling of human relationships in a digital age.

The story looks at how people fail at connecting online.

Literary/Thematic usage.

Critics decried the bungling of the classic novel's adaptation.

Reviewers hated the bad way the book was turned into a movie.

Cultural criticism.

The organization's bungling of the data breach led to a total loss of trust.

The bad way they handled the stolen data made everyone stop trusting them.

Corporate/Ethical context.

類義語

botching fumbling mishandling spoiling mismanaging messing up

反対語

perfecting succeeding mastering

よく使う組み合わせ

bungling attempt

bungling official

bungling of the investigation

bungling bureaucracy

sheer bungling

bungling thief

bungling effort

bungling performance

bungling of the economy

bungling management

よく使うフレーズ

a bungling idiot

— A very insulting way to call someone completely incompetent.

He felt like a bungling idiot after forgetting his own wedding anniversary.

bungling through

— To manage to finish something despite making many mistakes.

We are just bungling through the project until the manager returns.

the bungling of a lifetime

— A massive, once-in-a-career level mistake.

That trade was the bungling of a lifetime for the young broker.

stop your bungling

— A command to stop making stupid or unskilled mistakes.

Stop your bungling and focus on the instructions!

bungling at every turn

— Making mistakes constantly or in every step of a process.

The new recruit was bungling at every turn during his first week.

pure bungling

— Failure caused entirely by lack of skill with no other factors.

The loss wasn't bad luck; it was pure bungling.

bungling on a grand scale

— A very large and public failure of competence.

The construction of the stadium was bungling on a grand scale.

a history of bungling

— A pattern of making incompetent mistakes over a long period.

The department has a history of bungling its data security.

bungling around

— Moving or acting in a clumsy, aimless way.

He was bungling around in the dark trying to find the light switch.

the height of bungling

— The ultimate example of incompetence.

Forgetting the keys to the vault was the height of bungling for the bank manager.

よく混同される語

bungling vs blundering

Blundering implies walking into a mistake blindly; bungling implies doing a task badly.

bungling vs bundling

Bundling means tying things together; it sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.

bungling vs botching

Botching usually refers to a physical object being ruined; bungling refers to the process or act.

慣用句と表現

"make a hash of it"

— To do something very badly, similar to bungling a task.

He really made a hash of the presentation.

informal

"all thumbs"

— To be very physically clumsy, like a bungler.

I'm all thumbs when it comes to sewing.

informal

"mess up"

— To make a mistake or handle something poorly.

Don't mess up this opportunity.

neutral

"screw up"

— A more informal, slightly stronger way to say bungle.

I really screwed up that exam.

informal

"fumble the ball"

— To make a mistake at a critical moment, often used in business.

We had the contract ready, but the sales team fumbled the ball.

idiomatic

"botch job"

— A task that has been done very poorly.

The repair on the roof was a total botch job.

informal

"drop the ball"

— To fail in one's responsibilities.

The marketing department really dropped the ball on this campaign.

neutral

"bull in a china shop"

— Someone who is very clumsy and likely to break things or cause trouble.

He's like a bull in a china shop when he's in the kitchen.

idiomatic

"cook one's own goose"

— To ruin one's own chances through bungling or foolishness.

He cooked his own goose by insulting the boss.

informal

"gum up the works"

— To interfere with the smooth running of a system through incompetence.

The new regulations really gummed up the works at the factory.

informal

間違えやすい

bungling vs fumbling

Both involve clumsiness.

Fumbling is specifically about using one's hands awkwardly, like dropping a ball. Bungling is about the whole task.

He was fumbling for his keys while bungling the entire explanation of why he was late.

bungling vs stumbling

Both imply a lack of grace.

Stumbling is physical tripping. Bungling is metaphorical or professional failure.

He stumbled over a rock, which was just another part of his bungling day.

bungling vs ineptitude

Both mean lack of skill.

Ineptitude is the noun for the quality; bungling is the noun/adjective for the act.

His bungling of the case was proof of his general ineptitude.

bungling vs gaffe

Both are mistakes.

A gaffe is specifically a social mistake or a spoken error. Bungling is a failure in performing a task.

His bungling of the dinner service was followed by a social gaffe when he insulted the guest.

bungling vs oversight

Both lead to errors.

An oversight is forgetting something by accident. Bungling is doing the task poorly while trying.

The missing comma was an oversight, but the wrong data was pure bungling.

文型パターン

The bungling [noun] [verb].

The bungling boy fell.

It was a bungling [noun].

It was a bungling mistake.

They are bungling the [noun].

They are bungling the project.

The bungling of the [noun] was [adjective].

The bungling of the deal was embarrassing.

Accused of the bungling of [noun phrase].

He was accused of the bungling of the investigation.

Replete with examples of [adjective] bungling.

The report was replete with examples of administrative bungling.

Through sheer bungling, [clause].

Through sheer bungling, they lost the keys.

A masterclass in bungling.

His speech was a masterclass in bungling.

語族

名詞

bungle (the act)

bungler (the person)

動詞

bungle (to perform poorly)

bungled (past tense)

形容詞

bungling (current/descriptive)

bungled (resultative)

使い方

frequency

Common in journalism and storytelling, less common in everyday spoken conversation than 'messing up'.

よくある間違い

Using it for a simple, lucky accident. → The plate slipped from my hand.
Bungling implies you were doing the task badly, not just that something happened by chance.
Saying 'I made a bungling'. → I made a bungled attempt / The bungling was obvious.
'Bungling' is an adjective or gerund, not a count noun like 'mistake'.
Confusing it with 'bundling'. → The bungling of the investigation.
'Bundling' means putting things together in a package. 'Bungling' means failing at a task.
Using it as a positive word for 'trying hard'. → His bungling efforts (implies failure).
Bungling is always negative. It doesn't mean 'trying your best but failing'; it means 'failing because you are unskilled'.
Pronouncing it 'bun-gling' with a hard N. → /ˈbʌŋ.ɡlɪŋ/
The 'ng' is one sound. Make sure to use the nasal sound as in 'song'.

ヒント

Choose your noun carefully

Bungling works best when paired with nouns that imply a process or a role, such as 'bungling official' or 'bungling of the heist'. This emphasizes the failure of the procedure.

Use it for 'high stakes' failure

The word has more impact when the failure matters. Calling a massive government error 'bungling' is very effective because it suggests the people in charge are simply not up to the job.

Try it in satire

If you are writing a funny story, use 'bungling' to describe your characters' attempts to do something difficult. It immediately tells the reader that things are going to go wrong.

Gerund vs Adjective

Remember that 'The bungling' (gerund) is the event, while 'A bungling person' (adjective) is the individual. Using both in a paragraph can help vary your sentence structure.

Be careful with insults

Calling someone's work 'bungling' is a serious accusation of incompetence. In a professional setting, only use it if you are prepared for a very negative reaction from the person you are describing.

Listen for 'sheer bungling'

When you hear the phrase 'sheer bungling', the speaker is emphasizing that there were no other excuses for the failure—it was 100% due to incompetence.

Look for it in headlines

Newspapers love this word because it is short and punchy. When you see it in a headline, expect the story to be about a mistake that could have been avoided.

Use it to express frustration

If a service or a process is going very poorly, saying 'This is just a bungling mess' is a sophisticated way to express your annoyance at the lack of skill involved.

Compare with 'botched'

If you want to focus on the ugly physical result (like a bad haircut), use 'botched'. If you want to focus on the poor way the person acted, use 'bungling'.

The 'Bungle' Jungle

Imagine a jungle where everything is a mess because the animals are 'bungling' their jobs. This visual can help you remember the word's meaning of messy incompetence.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of a 'Bungling' person as someone who 'Bangs' into things and 'Gles' (gets) it all wrong. The 'BUNG' sounds like a heavy, clumsy fall.

視覚的連想

Imagine a thief trying to climb through a window but getting his foot stuck and dropping his bag of stolen goods on his own head.

Word Web

Incompetent Clumsy Mistake Botch Fail Awkward Unskilled Official

チャレンジ

Try to use the word 'bungling' in a sentence about a fictional character who is a detective but is very bad at his job.

語源

The word 'bungling' comes from the verb 'bungle,' which first appeared in English in the mid-16th century. Its exact origin is uncertain, but it is likely of Scandinavian or Low German origin, possibly related to the Old Norse 'bunga' meaning to strike or thump. The frequentative suffix '-le' suggests repeated clumsy actions.

元の意味： Originally, it meant to work clumsily or to make a mess of something by striking it poorly.

Germanic

文化的な背景

Be careful using this word to describe someone's professional work to their face, as it is a direct insult to their competence.

Commonly used in political cartoons and late-night talk show monologues to mock government inefficiency.

Inspector Clouseau in 'The Pink Panther' (the ultimate bungling detective) The Wet Bandits in 'Home Alone' (bungling thieves) Mr. Bean (a character defined by his bungling interactions with the world)

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Politics

bungling of the economy
bungling of the election
administrative bungling
political bungling

Crime

bungling thief
bungling of the evidence
bungling investigation
bungling getaway

Workplace

bungling management
bungling of the merger
bungling intern
bungling presentation

Sports

bungling attempt at a goal
bungling defense
bungling coach
bungling play

Personal Life

bungling DIY
bungling cook
bungling date
bungling of the surprise

会話のきっかけ

"Have you ever seen a movie with a truly bungling main character?"

"What is the most bungling thing you have ever seen a politician do?"

"Do you think bungling is usually caused by lack of sleep or lack of skill?"

"Can you describe a time you saw someone bungling a very simple task?"

"Why do you think stories about bungling thieves are so popular in the news?"

日記のテーマ

Reflect on a time when your own bungling of a situation taught you an important lesson about preparation.

Write about a fictional bungling detective who accidentally solves a major crime through pure luck.

Discuss whether the bungling of government projects is an inevitable part of large bureaucracies.

Describe a 'bungling' moment from your childhood that makes you laugh today when you think about it.

Analyze the difference between a 'mistake' and 'bungling' in the context of professional sports.

よくある質問

10 問

Yes, bungling always implies a failure or a lack of skill. While it can be used humorously, it never describes a positive or successful action. It is a critique of how a task was handled.

It is usually too strong for a small typo. Bungling suggests a more significant failure of competence. For a typo, 'mistake' or 'error' is better. Use bungling for things like 'bungling the entire report'.

A klutz is someone who is physically clumsy in their daily life. A bungler is someone who fails at a specific job or task because they lack the necessary professional or technical skill.

It is used in both, but it has a very strong presence in British political journalism. In America, it is often used to describe 'bungling criminals' in news stories.

Yes, the base verb is 'bungle'. You can say 'He bungled the job.' 'Bungling' is the present participle used as an adjective or gerund.

The most common pattern is 'bungling of' (the bungling of the deal). You might use 'bungling in' for a location (bungling in the kitchen), but 'of' is more standard for the task.

Technically no, because bungling implies a lack of expertise. However, you could say an expert is 'bungling' a specific task if they are performing far below their usual high standard.

It is a 'neutral to formal' word. It is perfectly acceptable in a newspaper or a business report, but it is very critical, so it is not 'polite'.

Commonly bungled things include investigations, economies, negotiations, rescue attempts, robberies, and DIY home repairs.

It is a nasal 'ng' sound (like in 'sing'). You do not pronounce a hard 'g' followed by a separate 'l', but rather the 'ng' sound followed by the 'ling' syllable.

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