tone-deaf

1. Unable to clearly distinguish the difference in pitch between different notes.

   Although he was tone-deaf, he was a great lyricist.

   This is a distinction unavailable to the tone-deaf.

   ohne Gefühl für Tonhöhen, ohne musikalisches Gehör

   не различа́ющий отте́нков зву́каne različájuščij otténkov zvúka, немузыка́льныйnemuzykálʹnyj, медве́дь на у́хо наступи́лmedvédʹ na úxo nastupíl

   ведмідь на вухо наступивvedmidʹ na vuxo nastupyv

2. (colloquial)Having little or a shallow or banal appreciation of music, whether or not as a result of tone deafness.

3. (colloquial, figuratively)Out of touch with the experience of ordinary people.

   a politician's tone-deaf remarks about the price of bread

   The elected official's tone-deaf remarks about the operations of the clerk’s office were disappointing.

   weltfremd, abgehoben, ohne Bezug

4. (colloquial, figuratively)Insensitive and offensive as a result of not noticing the current social context.

   taktlos (if impolite), unangebracht, geschmacklos

regular