Esta página no seu idioma

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

中文

हिन्दी

A2 adjective #4,000 mais comum 10 min de leitura

不利

furi Top 4,000

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas 不利 em 30 segundos

Explicação 不利 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should think of 'furi' (不利) as the opposite of 'good' (ii) in a game or a simple choice. While you might not use this word every day as a beginner, you will hear it in basic games. Imagine you are playing rock-paper-scissors and your friend knows what you will throw. That is a 'furi' situation. At this level, just remember that 'bu' (不) means 'no' and 'ri' (利) is like a 'point' or 'bonus.' So, 'furi' means 'no bonus' or 'not good for me.' You can use it simply like 'kore wa furi desu' (this is bad for me/disadvantageous). It's a useful word to know when you feel like a situation is unfair or difficult compared to others. Try to notice the kanji in menus or signs—sometimes it appears in warnings. Even if you can't use it in complex sentences yet, recognizing that it marks a 'negative condition' is a great start. Focus on the 'na-adjective' rule: if you want to say 'a bad condition,' say 'furi na jouken.' Keep it simple and use it to describe games or simple competitions with friends. It's a step up from just saying 'bad' (warui) because it shows you understand that the situation is specifically making it harder for you to succeed.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the A2 level, you can start using 'furi' (不利) in more specific contexts like school, simple work tasks, or sports. You should understand that 'furi' is a 'na-adjective.' This means when you describe a noun, you must use 'na.' For example, 'furi na tachiba' (a disadvantageous position). You can also use it with 'ni naru' to show a change: 'furi ni naru' (to become disadvantageous). This is very common in sports. If a player gets a red card, the team 'furi ni naru.' You should also learn its opposite, 'yuuri' (有利 - advantageous). Learning them as a pair is the most effective way to memorize them. At A2, you might use 'furi' to explain why you couldn't finish a task: 'The time was too short, so it was furi for me.' It's more descriptive than 'muzukashii' (difficult). While 'muzukashii' describes the task itself, 'furi' describes the environment or the rules. Use 'furi' when the rules are not helping you. For instance, if you have to take an English test in a noisy room, that room is a 'furi na kankyou' (disadvantageous environment). Start practicing by identifying things in your life that are 'furi' (like a long commute) and things that are 'yuuri' (like living near a supermarket).

At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'furi' (不利) to discuss social issues, business scenarios, and more complex personal strategies. You should move beyond simple games and start using the word to analyze situations. A key phrase to master at this level is 'furi ni hataraku' (to work to one's disadvantage). This is used when a specific fact or event makes a situation worse for someone. For example, 'His lack of experience worked to his disadvantage during the interview.' You can also use 'furi' with the particle 'yori' for comparisons: 'This contract is more disadvantageous than the last one.' At B1, you are expected to understand the nuance between 'furi' and 'son' (loss). While 'son' is about losing something you already have, 'furi' is about the difficulty of gaining something in the future. You should also be comfortable using 'furi' in the 'te-form' to connect sentences: 'Joukyou ga furi de, makete shimatta' (The situation was disadvantageous, and I ended up losing). This level requires you to use the word to provide reasons and logical explanations in conversations. Whether you are talking about politics, the environment, or career choices, 'furi' is a powerful tool for explaining the 'why' behind a challenge.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the B2 level, 'furi' (不利) becomes a tool for professional and academic analysis. You should be able to use it in formal writing and debates. At this stage, you should understand how 'furi' is used in legal contexts, such as 'furi na kyoujutsu' (incriminating testimony) or 'furi na shouko' (prejudicial evidence). You should also be able to use the noun version 'furi-eki' (disadvantage/detriment) in business contexts. For example, discussing how a new policy might cause 'furi-eki' to certain stakeholders. B2 learners should also recognize the word in literature and news editorials where it describes abstract concepts like 'furi na sedai' (a disadvantaged generation). You should be able to discuss 'furi' in terms of systemic issues, such as how certain social structures put specific groups at a 'furi na tachiba.' Your usage should be precise—distinguishing 'furi' from 'ressei' (inferiority in strength) or 'heigai' (harmful influence). You can also use 'furi' to describe market conditions, like 'furi na kawase reto' (unfavorable exchange rates). At this level, you are not just saying something is 'bad'; you are providing a strategic assessment of the balance of power or benefit. You should be able to write an essay or give a presentation explaining why a certain strategy is 'furi' and proposing an alternative that is 'yuuri.'

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C1 level, your understanding of 'furi' (不利) should be nuanced and deeply integrated into various registers of Japanese. You should be able to use it in high-level business negotiations, legal discourse, and sophisticated literary analysis. At this level, you should be aware of the subtle psychological impact of the word. Calling a situation 'furi' in a negotiation can be a tactical move to demand better terms. You should also understand the historical and cultural weight of 'furi' in Japanese strategy, such as in the 'Art of War' style thinking where 'furi' is something to be avoided through 'keiryaku' (stratagem). You should be able to use 'furi' in complex grammatical structures, such as 'furi wo kakugo de' (prepared for the disadvantage) or 'furi wo hane-kaesu' (to bounce back from a disadvantage). Your vocabulary should include related formal terms like 'fubun' (disadvantageous/unfair) or 'fu-un' (unlucky/unfavorable). You should be able to detect when 'furi' is being used euphemistically in corporate speak to downplay a major failure. At C1, you should also be able to discuss the philosophy of 'furi'—how facing disadvantages can lead to 'seijou' (growth) or how 'furi' is often a matter of perspective. You should be comfortable reading technical reports where 'furi' is used to describe statistical outliers or unfavorable data trends.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of 'furi' (不利) and its various connotations. You can use the word with absolute precision in any context, from poetic descriptions of a tragic hero's 'furi na unmei' (disadvantageous fate) to the most technical legal or economic papers. You understand the etymological roots and how they interact with other words in the 'ri' (利) family, such as 'shouri' (victory), 'riyou' (utilization), and 'girishiki' (ceremonial). You can use 'furi' to critique complex systems, discussing the 'furi-sei' (disadvantageous nature) of certain socio-economic models. At this level, you are also sensitive to the prosody and rhythm of the word in speech, using it to create emphasis or to set a specific tone in a speech or lecture. You can navigate the most formal 'keigo' (honorific) environments, knowing how to express a disadvantage without sounding complaining or weak. You can also interpret 'furi' in classical or semi-classical texts where it might appear in different forms. Your ability to use 'furi' is no longer about the word itself, but about the strategic and rhetorical power it carries within the broader context of Japanese thought and communication. You can engage in deep philosophical debates about whether true 'furi' exists or if every disadvantage contains the seed of an advantage (the 'saio-ga-uma' philosophy).

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

不利 em 30 segundos

Used for situations where the odds are against you.
Common in sports, law, and business negotiations.
A na-adjective: use 'na' for nouns and 'ni' for adverbs.
The direct opposite of 'yuuri' (有利 - advantageous).

The Japanese word 不利 (furi) is a quintessential term used to describe situations where the odds are stacked against someone. At its core, it is a na-adjective (形容動詞) formed by two kanji: 不 (meaning 'not' or 'non-') and 利 (meaning 'profit,' 'benefit,' or 'advantage'). When combined, they literally translate to 'no benefit' or 'non-advantageous.' In daily life, it describes any circumstance that puts a person, a team, or a company in a weaker or more vulnerable position compared to others.

Strategic Context: In competitive environments like sports, games, or business negotiations, 'furi' is used to identify a lack of leverage. For example, playing an away game without your star player creates a 'furi' situation.

この条件では、我々のチームが圧倒的に不利だ。(Under these conditions, our team is at an overwhelming disadvantage.)

Understanding 'furi' requires looking at the concept of 'ri' (利). In Japanese culture, 'ri' isn't just about money; it's about the natural flow of benefit. When that flow is blocked or reversed, you are 'furi.' This word is frequently paired with verbs like なる (to become) or はたらく (to work/act). When we say something 'works to one's disadvantage,' we use the phrase 不利に働く (furi ni hataraku). This is common in legal contexts where a piece of evidence might hurt a defendant's case.

Social Nuance: In social settings, 'furi' can describe being 'the underdog.' However, unlike the English word 'underdog,' which can have a heroic or sympathetic connotation, 'furi' is more clinical and objective. It simply describes the factual state of having fewer resources or poorer conditions.

Furthermore, 'furi' is often used in the phrase 不利な立場 (furi na tachiba), which means 'a disadvantaged position.' This could refer to a junior employee trying to argue with a CEO, or a small nation negotiating with a superpower. The word carries a sense of weight—it implies that unless something changes, failure or loss is the likely outcome. It is not just 'bad' (warui); it is 'strategically poor.'

証拠がないことは、裁判で彼に不利に働いた。(The lack of evidence worked to his disadvantage in court.)

Economic Usage: In economics, a 'furi' exchange rate (不利な為替レート) is one that makes imports expensive or exports less profitable. It denotes a mathematical or systemic imbalance that favors the other party.

In conclusion, 'furi' is an essential word for describing the mechanics of success and failure. Whether you are discussing a chess game, a job interview, or a historical battle, 'furi' identifies the obstacles that make the path to victory difficult. It is a word of analysis, strategy, and realism.

Using 不利 (furi) correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a na-adjective. This means that when it modifies a noun, you must add な (na), and when it functions as an adverb, you use に (ni). Let's explore the various syntactic structures where 'furi' appears most naturally.

Modifying Nouns: The most common structure is [不利な + Noun]. Common nouns paired with 'furi' include 条件 (jouken - conditions), 立場 (tachiba - position), and 状況 (joukyou - situation).

彼は不利な条件で契約を結ばされた。(He was forced to sign the contract under unfavorable conditions.)

When 'furi' is the predicate of a sentence, it follows the standard [Noun + は + 不利だ/です] pattern. To emphasize the degree of disadvantage, you can add adverbs like 非常に (hijou ni - extremely) or 決定的に (ketteiteki ni - decisively). This is frequently heard in sports commentary when a team is losing by a large margin or has lost a key player.

Adverbial Usage: Using 'furi' with the particle 'ni' allows it to modify verbs. The most standard pairing is 不利に働く (furi ni hataraku), meaning 'to work against' or 'to be to one's disadvantage.' This is a very professional and formal way to describe negative consequences.

遅刻は、採用試験で不利になります。(Being late will be a disadvantage in the recruitment exam.)

Another sophisticated pattern is [〜にとって不利だ], which means 'disadvantageous for [Person/Group].' This clarifies who is suffering from the situation. For instance, 'This law is disadvantageous for small businesses' would be この法律は中小企業にとって不利だ. This structure is essential for debating policy, discussing fairness, or analyzing competitive markets.

雨が降ることは、足の速い選手にとって不利だ。(Rain is a disadvantage for fast runners.)

Comparative Usage: You can compare disadvantages using より (yori). For example, 'This plan is more disadvantageous than that one' is この計画はあの計画より不利だ. It allows for objective ranking of options during decision-making.

Finally, 'furi' can be used in the negative form: 不利ではない (furi dewa nai). Interestingly, this doesn't always mean 'advantageous' (yuuri); sometimes it just means the situation is 'neutral' or 'not specifically bad.' Using the negative form is a common way to reassure someone in a stressful situation that they haven't lost their chance yet.

You will encounter 不利 (furi) in various spheres of Japanese life, from the high-stakes world of corporate law to the casual commentary of a Sunday afternoon baseball game. It is a word that bridges the gap between formal analysis and everyday observation. Let's look at the specific domains where this word is most prevalent.

In the News and Media: News anchors frequently use 'furi' when reporting on international relations or economic shifts. If a new tariff is imposed, they might report that it puts Japanese exporters in a 不利な立場. It sounds objective and professional, providing a clear evaluation of the situation without being overly emotional.

円高は輸出企業にとって不利な要因となります。(A strong yen becomes a disadvantageous factor for export companies.)

In the world of Sports Commentary, 'furi' is used constantly. Whether it's a sumo wrestler facing a much larger opponent or a soccer team playing with ten men, the commentator will analyze how 'furi' the situation is. They might use the phrase 不利な戦い (furi na tatakai), which means 'an uphill battle' or 'a fight against the odds.'

Legal and Formal Contexts: In a courtroom or during a police investigation, 'furi' is the standard word for 'incriminating' or 'prejudicial.' Lawyers will advise their clients not to say anything that might be 不利 to their case. The right to remain silent is often explained as a protection against giving 不利な供述 (furi na kyoujutsu)—disadvantageous testimony.

In the Business World, 'furi' appears during negotiations. If a company realizes a contract clause is skewed against them, they will point out that the clause is 不利. Managers also use it during performance reviews or strategy meetings to identify weaknesses in the company's current market position. It is a key word for Risk Management.

このままでは、競合他社に対して不利になります。(At this rate, we will be at a disadvantage against our competitors.)

Educational Settings: Teachers and career counselors use 'furi' to warn students about the consequences of their choices. For example, not having a specific certification might be 不利 when applying for certain jobs. It is used here to provide realistic, objective advice about the competitive nature of the job market.

Lastly, you might hear it in Board Games like Shogi or Go. Players will evaluate the board and say 'furi da' when they realize their position is weak. In this context, it is a very calm, intellectual assessment of the state of play. This wide range of usage—from life-altering legal trials to a quiet game of Shogi—shows how deeply the concept of 'advantage/disadvantage' is embedded in Japanese communication.

While 不利 (furi) is a straightforward concept, English speakers often make specific errors when trying to integrate it into their Japanese. These mistakes usually involve grammatical categorization, confusing it with similar words, or using it in contexts where a different term would be more natural.

Mistake 1: Treating it as an I-Adjective: Because 'furi' ends with an 'i' sound, many learners mistakenly try to conjugate it like 'samui' (cold) or 'oishii' (delicious). They might say *'furikatta' for 'was disadvantageous.' This is incorrect. As a na-adjective, the past tense must be 不利だった (furi datta).

❌ 昨日、状況は不利かった。
✅ 昨日、状況は不利だった。(Yesterday, the situation was disadvantageous.)

Another frequent error is confusing 'furi' with 下手 (heta), which means 'unskilled.' If you want to say you are bad at soccer, do not say you are 'furi' at soccer. 'Furi' refers to the situation or conditions, not your personal skill level. You can be the best player in the world and still be in a 'furi' situation because you are outnumbered.

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Warui' (Bad): While 'furi' is a type of 'bad' situation, 'warui' is much broader. 'Warui' can mean evil, poor quality, or feeling sick. 'Furi' is specifically about strategic disadvantage. Saying 'this food is furi' makes no sense; you must say 'this food is warui.'

Learners also struggle with the difference between 'furi' and 損 (son). 'Son' refers to a loss (usually financial or a waste of time), whereas 'furi' refers to the state of being at a disadvantage. If you buy a product and it breaks, you suffered a 'son' (loss). If you are trying to buy a product but the price keeps going up, you are in a 'furi' (disadvantageous) position to buy it.

❌ 彼は損な立場にいる。
✅ 彼は不利な立場にいる。(He is in a disadvantageous position.)

Mistake 3: Overusing it in personal feelings: 'Furi' is a somewhat 'cold' or analytical word. If you are sad because your friend didn't invite you to a party, saying 'I am furi' sounds very strange. You would use 'kanashii' (sad) or 'shokku' (shocked). Use 'furi' for games, business, law, and logical scenarios.

Finally, watch out for the homophone 振り (furi), which means 'appearance' or 'pretending' (as in 'shiran-puri' - pretending not to know). This is a noun, not an adjective. Context usually makes the difference clear, but in writing, the kanji 不利 is your best friend to avoid confusion.

To truly master 不利 (furi), you must see how it fits into the larger ecosystem of Japanese words related to loss, weakness, and disadvantage. Depending on the level of formality and the specific type of disadvantage, you might choose a different word.

不利 (Furi) vs. 劣勢 (Ressei): 不利 refers to the conditions or situation being disadvantageous. 劣勢 refers to being numerically or power-wise inferior in a fight or game. You use 'furi' to describe the 'why' and 'ressei' to describe the 'current score' or 'status of the battle.'

数では劣勢だが、地形はこちらに有利だ。(We are numerically inferior, but the terrain is advantageous to us.)

Another common alternative is 不利益 (furieki). While 'furi' is an adjective, 'furieki' is a noun meaning 'disadvantage' or 'detriment.' It is heavily used in legal and business contracts to describe 'damages' or 'losses of interest.' If you are talking about a person's rights being violated, 'furieki' is the more precise term.

不利 (Furi) vs. 弊害 (Heigai): 弊害 refers to 'harmful effects' or 'evils' resulting from a system or habit. While 'furi' is about a competitive disadvantage, 'heigai' is about a negative side effect. For example, the 'heigai' of social media might be lack of sleep, but being banned from social media would be 'furi' for a digital marketer.

In casual conversation, Japanese people often use katakana words like デメリット (demeritto) or マイナス (mainasu). 'Demeritto' is the direct loanword for 'disadvantage' and is very common when discussing products or plans. 'Mainasu' is used when something 'takes away' from an experience or score. Use 'furi' for serious situations and 'demeritto' for choosing between two smartphones.

Summary Table

不利: General disadvantage (Na-adj).
劣勢: Being overwhelmed in battle (Noun).
不利益: Legal/Financial detriment (Noun).
損: Personal loss/waste (Noun/Na-adj).
デメリット: Pros/Cons context (Noun).

Finally, there is 不便 (fuben). While it also starts with 'bu' (not), it means 'inconvenient.' A 'furi' situation makes it hard to win; a 'fuben' situation makes it hard to do something comfortably. Don't confuse the two! Using a slow computer is 'fuben,' but trying to win a gaming tournament with a slow computer is 'furi.'

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The kanji '利' (ri) originally depicted a knife (刂) cutting grain (禾), symbolizing the harvest or profit. '不利' thus literally means the harvest is not coming.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ˈfuː.ri/

US /ˈfu.ri/

Atamadaka (Initial stress) - The pitch starts high on 'fu' and drops on 'ri'.

Rima com

Kuri (Chestnut) Muri (Impossible) Suri (Pickpocket) Giri (Obligation) Chiri (Dust) Turi (Fishing) Yuri (Lily) Himeji (City - partial)

Erros comuns

Pronouncing 'fu' with too much lip friction (it should be a soft breath).
Stretching the 'i' like 'furii' (it should be short).
Using an English 'r' instead of a Japanese tap.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

The kanji are common but 'ri' has many meanings. Context is key.

Escrita 3/5

Writing 'ri' (利) requires attention to the strokes in '禾'.

Expressão oral 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but remember it's a na-adjective.

Audição 2/5

Distinctive sound, though 'muri' and 'furi' can sound similar to beginners.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

良い (Yoi) 悪い (Warui) 便利 (Benri) 不便 (Fuben) 条件 (Jouken)

Aprenda a seguir

有利 (Yuuri) 利益 (Rieki) 損害 (Songai) 劣勢 (Ressei) 優勢 (Yuusei)

Avançado

不利益 (Furieki) 既得権益 (Kitoku kenei) 逆転 (Gyakuten) 打開 (Dakai) 是正 (Zesei)

Gramática essencial

Na-Adjective Modifying Nouns

不利な条件 (Furi na jouken)

Adverbial 'ni' with Verbs

不利に働く (Furi ni hataraku)

Conditional 'tara' with Adjectives

不利だったらやめる (Furi dattara yameru)

Using 'ni naru' for Change of State

不利になる (Furi ni naru)

Target particle 'ni' for affected parties

私に不利だ (Furi for me)

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Exemplos por nível

このゲームは私に不利です。

This game is disadvantageous for me.

Simple [A は B に不利です] structure.

それは不利なルールですね。

That is a disadvantageous rule, isn't it?

Using 'furi' as a na-adjective modifying 'ruuru'.

不利なときは休みましょう。

When it's disadvantageous, let's take a break.

Using 'toki' (when) with 'furi na'.

今の状況は不利じゃない。

The current situation is not disadvantageous.

Negative form 'furi janai'.

不利な条件でスタートした。

Started under disadvantageous conditions.

Past tense verb with 'furi na'.

彼は不利な立場にいる。

He is in a disadvantageous position.

Standard phrase 'furi na tachiba'.

どちらが不利ですか？

Which one is at a disadvantage?

Question form using 'dochira'.

不利でも頑張ります。

Even if it's disadvantageous, I will do my best.

Using 'demo' (even if).

雨は外の試合に不利だ。

Rain is a disadvantage for the outdoor match.

Plain form 'da' ending.

経験がないのは不利になる。

Not having experience will become a disadvantage.

Using 'ni naru' (to become).

不利な点を教えてください。

Please tell me the disadvantageous points.

Imperative 'kudasai' with 'furi na ten'.

この契約はあなたに不利です。

This contract is disadvantageous to you.

Target particle 'ni' for the person affected.

不利だと思ったらやめなさい。

If you think it's disadvantageous, stop.

Conditional 'tara' with 'to omou'.

彼は不利な状況を逆転させた。

He turned the disadvantageous situation around.

Object marker 'wo' with 'gyakuten saseta'.

背が低いことは不利じゃない。

Being short is not a disadvantage.

Gerund 'koto' as the subject.

不利な方を選ばないで。

Don't choose the disadvantageous one.

Negative imperative 'naide'.

その証言は彼に不利に働いた。

That testimony worked to his disadvantage.

Adverbial 'ni' with the verb 'hataraku'.

準備不足は決定的に不利だ。

Lack of preparation is decisively disadvantageous.

Adverb 'ketteiteki ni' (decisively).

今の為替レートは輸出に不利だ。

The current exchange rate is unfavorable for exports.

Topic marker 'wa' with specific domain 'yushutsu'.

不利な条件を飲まざるを得なかった。

I had no choice but to accept the unfavorable conditions.

Grammar 'zaru wo enai' (have no choice but to).

どちらの案がより不利か検討する。

Consider which plan is more disadvantageous.

Comparative 'yori' in an embedded question.

彼は不利を承知で挑戦した。

He took the challenge knowing it was disadvantageous.

Phrase 'furi wo shouchi de' (knowing the disadvantage).

不公平なルールは選手に不利だ。

Unfair rules are a disadvantage to players.

Complex subject with 'na-adjective'.

不利な立場から抜け出したい。

I want to escape from this disadvantageous position.

Desire form 'tai' with 'nukedasu'.

裁判で不利な供述を避けるべきだ。

You should avoid giving incriminating testimony in court.

Formal term 'kyoujutsu' (testimony) with 'beki da'.

この新法は小規模農家に不利だ。

This new law is disadvantageous to small-scale farmers.

Target group 'shoukibo nouka'.

情報の遅れはビジネスで不利になる。

A delay in information results in a disadvantage in business.

Subject 'jouhou no okure' (delay of information).

圧倒的に不利な状況下での勝利だった。

It was a victory under overwhelmingly disadvantageous circumstances.

Noun 'joukyou-ka' (under the circumstances).

不利な要素を一つずつ排除する。

Eliminate disadvantageous factors one by one.

Action verb 'haiju suru' (eliminate).

彼は自分の不利を認めようとしない。

He refuses to acknowledge his own disadvantage.

Volitional negative 'you to shinai'.

学歴が不利に作用することもある。

There are times when academic background acts as a disadvantage.

Verb 'sayou suru' (to act/operate).

不利な戦いを強いられている。

They are being forced into a disadvantageous fight.

Passive voice 'shiirarete iru'.

既得権益層にとって不利な改革だ。

This is a reform that is disadvantageous to the vested interests.

Advanced term 'kitoku keneiso' (vested interests).

不利な情勢を打破する策を練る。

Devise a plan to break through the unfavorable situation.

Idiom 'daha suru' (to break through).

証拠物件は被告に不利なものばかりだ。

The evidence items are all unfavorable to the defendant.

Structure 'bakari da' (nothing but).

不利な条件を逆手に取って成功した。

He succeeded by turning the disadvantageous conditions to his advantage.

Idiom 'sakate ni toru' (to turn the tables).

この統計は我々の仮説に不利である。

This statistic is unfavorable to our hypothesis.

Formal ending 'de aru'.

不利な立場を甘んじて受け入れる。

To resignedly accept a disadvantageous position.

Adverb 'amanjite' (resignedly).

交渉において不利なカードを切った。

Played a disadvantageous card in the negotiation.

Metaphorical use of 'kaado' (card).

不利な判決が下る可能性が高い。

There is a high possibility that an unfavorable ruling will be handed down.

Noun 'hanketsu' (ruling) with 'kudaru' (to be handed down).

構造的不利を是正する政策が必要だ。

Policies to rectify structural disadvantages are necessary.

Compound 'kouzouteki furi' (structural disadvantage).

不利な状況をいかに昇華させるかが鍵だ。

How to sublimate a disadvantageous situation is the key.

Philosophical term 'shouka' (sublimation).

その言動は彼自身の首を絞める不利なものだ。

Those words and actions are disadvantageous and are strangling him (metaphorically).

Idiom 'kubi wo shimeru' (to strangle/strangle oneself).

不利な条件の集積が破綻を招いた。

The accumulation of disadvantageous conditions led to the collapse.

Noun 'shouseki' (accumulation) and 'hatan' (collapse).

不利な立場に立たされることを厭わない。

He does not mind being placed in a disadvantageous position.

Verb 'itowanai' (to not mind/not grudge).

市場の変動は零細企業に不利に作用した。

Market fluctuations acted disadvantageously on micro-enterprises.

Specific term 'reisai kigyou' (micro-enterprise).

不利な運命に抗う姿が共感を呼ぶ。

The sight of someone resisting a disadvantageous fate evokes sympathy.

Verb 'aragau' (to resist).

不利な局面を打開する一手を模索する。

Search for a move to break through the disadvantageous phase.

Chess/Shogi term 'kyokumen' (phase/position).

Colocações comuns

不利な条件

不利な立場

不利に働く

圧倒的に不利

不利を認める

不利な証言

不利な状況

不利になる

不利な判決

不利を悟る

Frases Comuns

不利を承知で

— Doing something while fully aware of the disadvantage.

不利を承知で勝負に挑む。

不利をはねのける

— To overcome or brush off a disadvantage.

不利をはねのけて優勝した。

不利に回る

— To fall into a disadvantageous turn or position.

交渉が不利に回り始めた。

不利を挽回する

— To recover from a disadvantage.

後半で不利を挽回した。

不利を強いる

— To force a disadvantage upon someone else.

相手に不利な条件を強いる。

不利を嘆く

— To lament or complain about one's disadvantage.

自分の不利を嘆いても始まらない。

不利な扱い

— Unfair or disadvantageous treatment.

職場で不利な扱いを受ける。

不利な局面

— A disadvantageous phase or stage in a process.

今は不利な局面だが、耐えるしかない。

不利な取引

— A bad deal or disadvantageous trade.

不利な取引は避けるべきだ。

不利が見える

— When a disadvantage becomes obvious.

早くも不利が見えてきた。

Frequentemente confundido com

不利 vs 不便 (Fuben)

Fuben means 'inconvenient' (e.g., a long walk). Furi means 'disadvantageous' (e.g., a rule that makes you lose).

不利 vs 下手 (Heta)

Heta means 'unskilled' at doing something. Furi means the 'situation' is bad for you.

不利 vs 損 (Son)

Son is a 'loss' or 'waste'. Furi is the 'state' of being at a disadvantage.

Expressões idiomáticas

"分が悪い"

— Used when the odds are against you in a gamble or fight.

この賭けは分が悪い。

Casual/Gambling

"背水の陣"

— A situation with no retreat, often starting from a 'furi' position.

不利な状況だが、背水の陣で臨む。

Literary/Strategic

"風向きが悪い"

— The wind is blowing the wrong way (things are becoming 'furi').

どうも風向きが悪いな。

Casual

"後手に回る"

— To be one step behind, putting one at a disadvantage.

対応が遅れて後手に回った。

Neutral

"旗色が悪い"

— The situation looks unfavorable for one's side.

味方の旗色が悪いようだ。

Idiomatic

"分をわきまえる"

— To know one's place (often used when in a 'furi' position).

不利な立場なら分をわきまえろ。

Harsh/Formal

"足元を見る"

— To take advantage of someone's weak/furi position.

足元を見られて高い値を付けられた。

Business

"手も足も出ない"

— To be so 'furi' that one cannot do anything at all.

相手が強すぎて手も足も出ない。

Casual

"窮地に立つ"

— To stand in a predicament or a very 'furi' spot.

会社は今、窮地に立っている。

Formal

"暗雲が垂れ込める"

— Dark clouds hanging over (a 'furi' future).

プロジェクトに暗雲が垂れ込める。

Literary

Fácil de confundir

不利 vs 振り (Furi)

Same pronunciation.

This 'furi' means 'appearance', 'swing', or 'pretending'. It is a noun, not an adjective.

バットの振り (Swing of the bat).

不利 vs 不利益 (Furieki)

Same kanji root.

This is a noun meaning 'detriment' or 'harm'. It's more formal and specific to legal/financial loss.

不利益を被る (To suffer a detriment).

不利 vs 不利さ (Furisa)

Derived form.

This is the noun form of the adjective 'furi', meaning 'the degree of disadvantage'.

不利さを痛感する (To feel the degree of disadvantage keenly).

不利 vs 不合理 (Fugouri)

Both start with 'Bu' and relate to negative logic.

Fugouri means 'irrational' or 'illogical'. Furi is just about the outcome/benefit.

不合理な要求 (An irrational demand).

不利 vs 不良 (Furyou)

Both start with 'Bu'.

Furyou means 'bad quality' or 'delinquent'. It has nothing to do with strategic disadvantage.

不良品 (Defective product).

Padrões de frases

[Noun] は不利です。

このルールは不利です。

[Noun] は [Person] に不利だ。

雨は彼に不利だ。

不利な [Noun] を [Verb]。

不利な条件を受け入れる。

不利に働く。

その証言は不利に働く。

不利を承知で [Verb]。

不利を承知で戦う。

圧倒的に不利だ。

状況は圧倒的に不利だ。

不利な立場を打破する。

不利な立場を打破する策を考える。

不利な局面を打開する。

不利な局面を打開する一手を打つ。

Família de palavras

Substantivos

不利益 (Furieki - Disadvantage/Harm)

不利さ (Furisa - Degree of disadvantage)

Adjetivos

有利 (Yuuri - Advantageous)

Relacionado

利益 (Rieki - Profit)

利用 (Riyou - Use)

便利 (Benri - Convenient)

勝利 (Shouri - Victory)

権利 (Kenri - Right)

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos

Como usar

frequency

High in news, sports, and business; Medium in casual daily life.

Erros comuns

Using 'furikatta' as the past tense. → 不利だった (furi datta).
It is a na-adjective, so it follows noun-like conjugation.
Saying 'Watashi wa suugaku ga furi desu.' → 私は数学が苦手です (Watashi wa suugaku ga nigate desu).
'Furi' describes a situation, 'nigate' describes a personal weakness.
Using 'furi' for 'inconvenient'. → 不便 (fuben).
If a shop is far, it's 'fuben.' If you can't win a race because the shop is far, it's 'furi'.
Omitting 'na' before a noun. → 不利な立場 (furi na tachiba).
Na-adjectives require 'na' to connect to nouns.
Confusing 'furi' (disadvantage) with 'furi' (pretending). → Use kanji (不利 vs 振り).
Context usually clarifies, but kanji is essential in writing.

Dicas

Don't forget the 'na'

Always use 'furi na' when modifying a noun. 'Furi jouken' is wrong; 'furi na jouken' is right.

Use with 'hataraku'

The phrase 'furi ni hataraku' (to work to one's disadvantage) is a very natural way to describe consequences in business.

Pair with 'yuuri'

Learn 'furi' and 'yuuri' together. They are the 'yin and yang' of Japanese strategic vocabulary.

Short 'i'

Keep the 'i' at the end short. If you lengthen it, it sounds like 'pretending' (furi-i).

Kanji Meaning

Remember the 'not profit' kanji. It helps you remember the meaning instantly.

Humility

In Japan, admitting you are in a 'furi' position can sometimes be a humble way to ask for help without being direct.

JLPT Tip

'Furi' often appears in reading sections about social problems or business results.

Not for health

Don't use 'furi' to say you feel sick. Use 'guai ga warui'.

Objective vs Subjective

'Furi' is usually an objective assessment of facts, not just a feeling of being 'bad'.

Adverbial form

Use 'furi ni' when describing how something happened (e.g., 'It ended disadvantageously').

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'Fu' as 'Fooled' and 'Ri' as 'Reward'. If you are 'Fu-Ri', you were Fooled out of your Reward, so you are at a Disadvantage.

Associação visual

Imagine a scale where one side is heavy with gold (Yuuri) and your side is empty (Furi).

Word Web

Disadvantage Unfair Uphill battle Business loss Legal trouble Sports underdog Weak position Negative odds

Desafio

Try to find three things in your current environment that are 'furi' for your Japanese study (like a noisy room or a busy schedule).

Origem da palavra

The word is composed of 'Bu' (不 - negation) and 'Ri' (利 - benefit). It originated from classical Chinese texts used in Japan to describe strategic lack of benefit.

Significado original: Lack of profit or lack of sharpness (as 'ri' can also refer to a sharp blade).

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Contexto cultural

Be careful not to use 'furi' to describe people with disabilities in a derogatory way; use more respectful terms like 'shougaisha' in social contexts.

English speakers often say 'unfair' when Japanese speakers would say 'furi.' 'Furi' is more objective and less about feelings.

The board game 'Go' uses 'furi' to describe a weak group of stones. In the anime 'Kaiji', the protagonist is constantly in 'furi' gambling situations. The term appears in the Japanese Civil Code regarding contracts.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Sports and Games

不利な判定 (Unfavorable call)
不利を覆す (Overturn a disadvantage)
不利なドロー (Unfavorable draw)
数的不利 (Numerical disadvantage)

Business Negotiations

不利な条項 (Disadvantageous clause)
不利な立場での交渉 (Negotiating from a weak position)
不利な契約 (Bad contract)
不利な市場動向 (Unfavorable market trend)

Legal Proceedings

不利な証拠 (Incriminating evidence)
不利な判決 (Unfavorable verdict)
不利な供述 (Prejudicial statement)
不利に扱う (To treat disadvantageously)

Daily Choices

不利な選択 (A choice that puts one at a disadvantage)
不利な時間帯 (An unfavorable time slot)
不利な場所 (A bad location)
不利な天候 (Unfavorable weather)

Academic/Tests

不利な配点 (Disadvantageous point allocation)
不利な問題 (A problem that is harder for some than others)
不利な環境 (Poor study environment)
不利なスタート (A late start)

Iniciadores de conversa

"最近、何か自分に不利だと感じたことはありますか？ (Have you felt like anything was a disadvantage for you lately?)"

"このゲームのルール、誰かに不利だと思いませんか？ (Don't you think the rules of this game are disadvantageous to someone?)"

"不利な状況から逆転した経験はありますか？ (Have you ever turned a disadvantageous situation around?)"

"今の経済状況は、若者にとって不利だと思いますか？ (Do you think the current economic situation is disadvantageous for young people?)"

"不利な条件でも、その仕事を引き受けますか？ (Would you take that job even under disadvantageous conditions?)"

Temas para diário

今日の出来事の中で、自分が「不利だ」と感じた瞬間を詳しく書いてください。 (Write in detail about a moment today when you felt you were at a disadvantage.)

もし自分が圧倒的に不利な立場に立たされたら、どうやってそれを解決しますか？ (If you were placed in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position, how would you solve it?)

「不利」を「有利」に変えるための戦略について、自分の考えを述べてください。 (State your thoughts on strategies for turning a disadvantage into an advantage.)

歴史上の人物で、不利な状況を乗り越えたと思う人を一人選び、その理由を書いてください。 (Choose one historical figure who you think overcame a disadvantageous situation and write why.)

外国語を学ぶ上で、今の自分にとって不利な点と有利な点は何ですか？ (What are the disadvantageous and advantageous points for you right now in learning a foreign language?)

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No, you should use 'nigate' or 'heta.' 'Furi' is for situations, not skills. However, you could say 'The test format is furi for me' (Kono tesuto no keishiki wa watashi ni totte furi desu).

Yes, 'furi' always implies a lack of benefit or a disadvantage. However, acknowledging it is often seen as a positive, strategic step toward fixing a problem.

'Son' is about losing something you have (like money or time). 'Furi' is about the conditions that make it hard for you to get what you want or win.

Since it's a na-adjective, use 'furi datta' (informal) or 'furi deshita' (polite). Don't say 'furikatta'!

Yes, but only if the weather is disadvantageous for a specific activity, like rain being 'furi' for a baseball game.

It is neutral and can be used in both formal business meetings and casual sports talk. It's very versatile.

The most direct antonym is 'yuuri' (有利), which means advantageous.

Yes, it can function as a noun meaning 'disadvantage.' For example: 'Furi wo kokufuku suru' (to overcome a disadvantage).

There isn't a specific slang word, but in gaming, people might say 'tsun-de-ru' (checked/stuck) to describe a very 'furi' situation.

Not necessarily. A disadvantage can be fair (like playing against a better team). 'Furi' just describes the state of the odds.

Cadastre-se grátis para ver dicas e notas