I saw these different words used to describe someone who was something
careless in an airhead type of way so I wanted to know if they mean that or if
there is nuance in the definition. Is there another word for airhead if that
isn't the definition then?
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2022-02-14T07:24:37.950
93406
2022-02-15T00:19:51.300
48706
question
meaning word-choice
Do 能天気 and おっちょこちょい both mean "airhead" or do they mean something different? Is there another word for airhead?
They have different meanings. Please look up each word in a dictionary. 能天気な人
([jisho.org](https://jisho.org/word/%E8%83%BD%E5%A4%A9%E6%B0%97),
[ALC](https://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=%E8%83%BD%E5%A4%A9%E6%B0%97)) refers to
someone who is carefree or optimistic to a fault, someone who doesn't get
serious or feel anxious even when they should. おっちょこちょいな人
([jisho.org](https://jisho.org/word/%E3%81%8A%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A1%E3%82%87%E3%81%93%E3%81%A1%E3%82%87%E3%81%84),
[ALC](https://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=%E3%81%8A%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A1%E3%82%87%E3%81%93%E3%81%A1%E3%82%87%E3%81%84))
refers to someone who is careless and makes many simple (but usually non-
critical) mistakes such as forgetting an umbrella or blackening a pancake.

**EDIT** : As Nanigashi pointed out, jisho.org's definition of 能天気 may be
misleading. Monolingual dictionaries explicitly say or at least imply 能天気 is
derogatory (see
[this](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E8%83%BD%E5%A4%A9%E6%B0%97/) and
[this](https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E8%83%BD%E5%A4%A9%E6%B0%97)).
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-14T08:10:11.107
93407
2022-02-15T00:19:51.300
2022-02-15T00:19:51.300
5010
5010
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answer