Meaning and Usage
「物足りない」means feeling unsatisfied or that something is insufficient. It often expresses a sense of lacking something expected or desired, whether in taste, quantity, quality, or experience.
Common Contexts
This adjective is frequently used when talking about food that lacks flavor or quantity, explanations or performances that feel incomplete, or experiences that leave a feeling of wanting more.
Collocations and Patterns
- 物足りない味 (ものたりないあじ): unsatisfactory taste, often used for bland or weak flavors.
- 物足りない説明 (ものたりないせつめい): insufficient explanation, too simple or lacking detail.
- 物足りなさを感じる (ものたりなさをかんじる): to feel unsatisfied.
Register and Nuance
This word is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It conveys a mild dissatisfaction rather than strong criticism.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 物足りない with simply "not enough" quantitatively. While it can imply quantity, it often includes a qualitative or emotional nuance of dissatisfaction or incompleteness.