鈍い

にぶい · nibui · JLPT N2 · i-adj

dull

🔪 Sounds like nib-oo-ee: a dull blade only nibbles instead of cutting

Start with a blunt knife, then stretch the same word to a dim-witted thinker or a slow pace. The metal radical 金 in 鈍 points to the blade.

のろい · noroi · JLPT N2 · i-adj

dull

🔪🐢 金 metal + 屯 tun: a metal edge that won't cut is dull, and the same blunt sense covers slow and stupid

A blunt blade is dull, and dullness extends to slow pace and slow wit. Think of the knife for the first sense and the turtle for the second.

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