くない

Japanese

Etymology 1
Alternative spellings
苦無
苦内
A highly stylized kunai, as often portrayed in fiction

Unknown. The kanji spellings appear to be ateji (当て字).

This term appears to be rare, and it is not listed in many dictionaries.[1][2][3][4]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [kɯ̟ᵝna̠i]

Noun

くない • (kunai) 

  1. (weaponry) a Japanese throwing weapon, possibly derived from a masonry trowel
Coordinate terms
Derived terms
Descendants
  • → English: kunai
See also

Etymology 2

Derived as a repurposing of the negative ending -ku nai of regular -i adjectives. Appears as slang in informal usage where standard Japanese would use じゃない (ja nai) instead.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [kɯ̟ᵝna̠i]

Particle

くない • (kunai) 

  1. [from 2008?] (informal, slang) isn't it, aren't you (said when seeking confirmation from the listener)
    あるくない？
    Aru kunai?
    They have that, don't they?

References
  1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  3. 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  4. 1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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