不幸
ふこう · fukou (also spelled fuko)
Unhappiness, sorrow, misfortune, disaster, accident
- death (usu. of a relative), bereavement
Other ways to say “unhappiness” in Japanese →
falls after mora 2 · what is pitch accent?
How it’s used
Used in everyday speech and writing to describe personal or general misfortune, unhappiness, or tragedy. It is more neutral and broader than 'fukouhei' (injustice).
Commonly confused with 'fuun' (misfortune), which is more formal and often refers to a broader stroke of bad luck, whereas 'fukou' is more personal and used for general unhappiness.
Example sentences
彼は不幸な事故で亡くなった。
He died in an unfortunate accident.
Nihoner
彼女は不幸にも財布をなくした。
Unfortunately, she lost her wallet.
Nihoner
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Questions
What does 不幸 mean?
Unhappiness, sorrow, misfortune, disaster, accident. It can also mean: death (usu. of a relative), bereavement.
How do you pronounce 不幸?
ふこう (fukou). Pitch accent: nakadaka — falls after mora 2. Press Listen above to hear it.
What JLPT level is 不幸?
JLPT N2 — upper intermediate. See the JLPT N2 guide.
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