不自由

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 不自由(ふじゆう) describes difficulty moving or doing what one needs or wishes to do.
• Basic usage: It covers difficulty eating when a hand cannot be used, or difficulty getting around because of transport conditions.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A condition and experiencing difficulty
  • 交通が不自由 describes inconvenient transport conditions. 食事に不自由している uses 不自由する to describe someone experiencing difficulty eating.
• Compared with 不便
  • 不便(ふべん) broadly describes inconvenient environments or means. 不自由 more strongly brings out restricted functions or resources that prevent one from acting as desired.