な形容詞 II

説明せつめいが曖昧あいまい模糊もことしていて要領ようりょうを得えない。

The explanation is so hazy that one cannot get the gist of it.

Usage 曖昧模糊とした — utterly vague. A four-character compound, used with と and する. Formal and written.

Remember it 曖昧 (unclear) + 模糊 (blurred) → unclear, and blurred on top of that.

潜ひそんでいた問題もんだいが顕在けんざい化かした。

A problem that had been hidden came to the surface.

Usage 顕在化する, becoming manifest, is the usual form. Its direct opposite is 潜在, and the two almost always appear together in reading passages.

Remember it 顕 (manifest) + 在 (exist) → existing where it can be seen.

潜在せんざい能力のうりょくを引ひき出だす指導しどうが必要ひつようだ。

Teaching that draws out latent ability is needed.

Usage 潜在能力, potential; 潜在意識, the subconscious; 潜在する, to lie hidden. Opposite: 顕在.

Remember it 潜 (dive, submerge) + 在 (exist) → existing below the surface.

画期かっき的てきな新しん技術ぎじゅつが発表はっぴょうされた。

A groundbreaking new technology was announced.

Usage 画期 means marking off an era, so 画期的 is opening a new one. Read かっきてき, with the clipped double consonant. Strong praise.

Remember it 画 (mark off) + 期 (era) + 的 → drawing the line where a new era starts.

これは典型てんけい的てきな失敗しっぱい例れいだ。

This is a textbook example of failure.

Usage 典型的な〜 — typical of its whole class. The noun 典型 gives 〜の典型, the very model of something.

Remember it 典 (canon) + 型 (model) + 的 → the model the rest are measured against.

圧倒あっとう的てきな差さをつけて勝利しょうりした。

They won by an overwhelming margin.

Usage 圧倒的な差, 圧倒的な多数, 圧倒的な強さ. The adverb 圧倒的に is very common: 圧倒的に多い, overwhelmingly numerous.

Remember it 圧 (press) + 倒 (topple) + 的 → pressing hard enough to knock the other over.

今回こんかいのミスは致命ちめい的てきだった。

This time the mistake was fatal.

Usage 致命的な欠陥, 致命的なミス — beyond recovery. The noun 致命傷, a mortal wound, is also used figuratively.

Remember it 致 (bring about) + 命 (life) + 的 → it reaches as far as the life.

人手ひとで不足ぶそくが恒常こうじょう的てきになっている。

The labour shortage has become permanent.

Usage 恒常的な — constant and unchanging. Formal and written. Opposites: 一時的, 暫定的. Read こうじょうてき.

Remember it 恒 (constant) + 常 (always) + 的 → the same, always.

暫定ざんてい的てきな措置そちにすぎない。

It is no more than a provisional measure.

Usage 暫定的な措置, 暫定的な順位. 暫定 also stands alone: 暫定一位, leading for now.

Remember it 暫 (for the moment) + 定 (fix) + 的 → fixed only until the real decision comes.

独善どくぜん的てきな態度たいどでは協力きょうりょくを得えられない。

A self-righteous attitude will not win you cooperation.

Usage 独善的な — certain you alone are right and deaf to anyone else. Read どくぜんてき. Critical.

Remember it 独 (alone) + 善 (right) + 的 → the only one who is right, by your own account.

排他はいた的てきな組織そしきは長ながく続つづかない。

An exclusionary organisation does not last.

Usage 排他的な — closed against outsiders. Also exclusive in the legal sense: 排他的経済水域, an exclusive economic zone.

Remember it 排 (push out) + 他 (others) + 的 → pushing everyone else out.

効果こうかについては懐疑かいぎ的てきな見方みかたが多おおい。

Many take a sceptical view of its effectiveness.

Usage 〜に懐疑的だ — note the に. The noun is 懐疑. Weaker than 否定的, because doubting is not yet rejecting.

Remember it 懐 (harbour in the breast) + 疑 (doubt) + 的 → carrying the doubt around with you.

物事ものごとを俯瞰ふかん的てきに捉とらえる視点してんが要いる。

A perspective that takes things in from above is needed.

Usage 俯瞰的に見る — surveying the whole from above. The opposite of a close-up, piecemeal view.

Remember it 俯 (look down) + 瞰 (gaze) + 的 → looking down over the whole of it.

問題もんだいを多角たかく的てきに検討けんとうする必要ひつようがある。

The problem needs to be examined from several angles.

Usage 多角的に検討する. Also 多角化, diversification in business. Close in sense to 多面的.

Remember it 多 (many) + 角 (angle) + 的 → looked at from more than one corner.

実質じっしつ的てきには彼かれが責任せきにん者しゃだ。

In substance he is the one in charge.

Usage 実質的に — in real terms, whatever the formal position. Its direct opposite is 形式的, and the two are often tested together.

Remember it 実 (real) + 質 (substance) + 的 → what it is made of, not what it is called.

形式けいしき的てきな謝罪しゃざいでは納得なっとくできない。

A perfunctory apology is not good enough.

Usage 形式的な — going through the motions with no substance behind them. Critical. Opposite: 実質的.

Remember it 形 (form) + 式 (ceremony) + 的 → the form observed and nothing more.

潜在せんざい的てきな需要じゅようを掘ほり起おこす。

Unearthing latent demand.

Usage 潜在的な需要, 潜在的なリスク — present but not yet showing. The 〜的 form of 潜在. Opposite: 顕在的.

Remember it 潜 (submerge) + 在 (exist) + 的 → there, but under the surface.

先天せんてん的てきな要因よういんも無視むしできない。

Innate factors cannot be ignored either.

Usage 先天的な — present from birth. Its pair is 後天的. In medicine: 先天性の病気, a congenital condition.

Remember it 先 (before) + 天 (heaven, birth) + 的 → there before you arrived.

語彙ごい力りょくは後天こうてん的てきに伸のばせる。

Vocabulary can be built up after the fact.

Usage 後天的な — acquired through training and environment. The pair of 先天的, and the two almost always appear together in reading passages.

Remember it 後 (after) + 天 (birth) + 的 → picked up after you arrived.

普遍ふへん的てきな価値かちを持もつ作品さくひんだ。

It is a work of universal value.

Usage 普遍的な — holding good everywhere and always. The noun is 普遍性. Do not confuse 不変 (ふへん), unchanging — a favourite homophone trap.

Remember it 普 (widespread) + 遍 (everywhere) + 的 → true across the whole of it.

相対そうたい的てきに見みれば悪わるい数字すうじではない。

Seen in relative terms, it is not a bad figure.

Usage 相対的に — judged by comparison. Its pair is 絶対的. Read そうたいてき, not あいたい.

Remember it 相 (mutual) + 対 (against) + 的 → measured against something else.

彼かれはチーム内ないで絶対ぜったい的てきな信頼しんらいを得えている。

He commands absolute trust within the team.

Usage 絶対的な — holding independently of any comparison. Its pair is 相対的. Distinct from the adverb 絶対に, meaning definitely.

Remember it 絶 (cut off) + 対 (comparison) + 的 → cut off from anything to compare it with.

父ちちは厳格げんかくな人ひとだった。

My father was a strict man.

Usage 厳格な — uncompromising about principle. Applied to people, rules and their enforcement. More formal than 厳しい.

Remember it 厳 (strict) + 格 (standard) → holding to the standard without bending.

異ことなる意見いけんに寛容かんようであるべきだ。

We ought to be tolerant of differing opinions.

Usage 〜に寛容だ — note the に. Opposites: 排他的, 厳格. The noun is 寛容さ.

Remember it 寛 (broad) + 容 (accept) → broad enough to take it in.

寛大かんだいな処置しょちに感謝かんしゃしております。

I am grateful for your lenient treatment of the matter.

Usage 寛大な処置, 寛大な心 — generous in overlooking a fault. Against 寛容: 寛大 forgives wrongdoing, 寛容 accepts difference.

Remember it 寛 (broad) + 大 (big) → big enough to let it go.

用意ようい周到しゅうとうな計画けいかくだった。

It was a meticulously prepared plan.

Usage 用意周到 — prepared down to the last detail — is a common four-character compound and the word's usual home.

Remember it 周 (all round) + 到 (reach) → reaching round to every side of it.

精巧せいこうな細工ざいくに目めを奪うばわれた。

I was captivated by the exquisite workmanship.

Usage 精巧な作り, 精巧な模型 — finely and accurately made. Used of things people have made. The noun is 精巧さ.

Remember it 精 (refined) + 巧 (skilful) → refined work and a skilled hand.

粗雑そざつな仕事しごとぶりが問題もんだいになった。

The slapdash quality of his work became an issue.

Usage 粗雑な — rough and careless. Opposites: 精巧, 丁寧.

Remember it 粗 (coarse) + 雑 (jumbled) → coarse, and thrown together at that.

粗野そやな言葉遣ことばづかいが目立めだった。

His coarse way of speaking stood out.

Usage 粗野な — rough and unrefined in speech and manner. Opposites: 上品, 洗練された.

Remember it 粗 (coarse) + 野 (wild) → coarse in the way of someone never brought indoors.

実直じっちょくな人柄ひとがらで信頼しんらいを集あつめている。

His honest character has won people's trust.

Usage 実直な人柄 — honest, upright and thorough in what he does. A compliment about character.

Remember it 実 (true) + 直 (straight) → true and straight.

華麗かれいな舞台ぶたい衣装いしょうに見みとれた。

I was entranced by the gorgeous stage costumes.

Usage 華麗な — splendid, resplendent. 華麗なる一族 is the grand family of the novel's title. More elevated than 派手, which can be a criticism.

Remember it 華 (flower, splendour) + 麗 (beautiful) → beautiful in full flower.

厳粛げんしゅくな雰囲気ふんいきの中なかで式しきが行おこなわれた。

The ceremony was held in a solemn atmosphere.

Usage 厳粛な雰囲気, 厳粛な事実. 厳粛に受け止める means taking something with due seriousness.

Remember it 厳 (strict) + 粛 (hushed) → strict and hushed at once.

今回こんかいは穏便おんびんに済すませたい。

I would like to settle it quietly this time.

Usage 穏便に済ませる — handling something without making a scene. This is effectively the word's only use.

Remember it 穏 (calm) + 便 (convenient) → the calm way, which is also the easier one.

温厚おんこうな人ひとだが筋すじは通とおす。

He is mild-mannered, but he stands his ground on principle.

Usage 温厚な人柄 — even-tempered and slow to anger. A compliment. Opposites: 短気, 横柄.

Remember it 温 (warm) + 厚 (thick) → warmth with some depth behind it.

横柄おうへいな態度たいどに腹はらが立たった。

His arrogant manner made me angry.

Usage 横柄な態度 — haughty and dismissive of others. Read おうへい, not よこがら. Close to 傲慢, 高圧的.

Remember it 横 (crosswise, unreasonable) + 柄 (bearing) → carrying yourself across other people.

強引ごういんなやり方かたでは反発はんぱつを招まねく。

Forcing it through will only provoke resistance.

Usage 強引な — riding over objections. Read ごういん. 強引に進める means pushing ahead regardless. Critical.

Remember it 強 (force) + 引 (pull) → pulling it your way by main force.

言葉ことばを巧たくみに操あやつる話はなし手てだ。

He is a speaker who handles words deftly.

Usage 巧みな and 巧みに — skilful, adroit. The adverb is very common. Distinguish 巧妙, which adds a hint of cunning.

Remember it 巧 (skilful) → the hand that does it well.

軽快けいかいな足あし取どりで階段かいだんを上のぼった。

He went up the stairs with a light step.

Usage 軽快な足取り, 軽快なリズム — light, nimble and unlaboured. There is also a medical sense: 症状が軽快する, symptoms easing.

Remember it 軽 (light) + 快 (pleasant) → light on the feet and pleasant with it.

痛烈つうれつな批判ひはんを浴あびた。

He came in for scathing criticism.

Usage 痛烈な批判, 痛烈な皮肉 — biting, and aimed where it hurts. It goes with almost nothing but 批判, 皮肉 and 一撃.

Remember it 痛 (pain) + 烈 (fierce) → fierce enough to hurt.

上位じょうい争あらそいは熾烈しれつを極きわめた。

The fight for the top places was extremely fierce.

Usage 熾烈な争い, 熾烈な競争. 熾烈を極める means fierce in the extreme. The character 熾 is a fire at full blaze. Read しれつ.

Remember it 熾 (blazing) + 烈 (violent) → burning at white heat.

壮絶そうぜつな戦たたかいの末すえに勝利しょうりした。

They won after a heroic struggle.

Usage 壮絶な戦い, 壮絶な最期. Unlike 熾烈, 壮絶 carries admiration — fierce in a way that commands respect.

Remember it 壮 (magnificent) + 絶 (to the utmost) → magnificent past the ordinary limit.

遺族いぞくの悲痛ひつうな叫さけびが胸むねに響ひびいた。

The grieving family's anguished cry went straight to the heart.

Usage 悲痛な叫び, 悲痛な表情 — far stronger than 悲しい. Usually describing another person's cry or expression.

Remember it 悲 (grief) + 痛 (pain) → grief that has turned into pain.

事件じけん現場げんばは陰惨いんさんな空気くうきに包つつまれていた。

A grim atmosphere hung over the scene of the crime.

Usage 陰惨な事件, 陰惨な光景 — grim and haunting. Written register, common in news reporting.

Remember it 陰 (shadow) + 惨 (wretched) → wretchedness in the dark.

この数字すうじが現状げんじょうを如実にょじつに物語ものがたっている。

These figures tell the state of things exactly as it is.

Usage 如実に物語る, 如実に示す — reflecting reality faithfully. Almost always as the adverb 如実に. Read にょじつ, an uncommon 呉音 reading.

Remember it 如 (like) + 実 (reality) → just as the reality is.

被害ひがいは軽微けいびだと報告ほうこくされた。

The damage was reported as slight.

Usage 軽微な被害, 軽微な損傷 — minor. Written, common in official reports. Opposites: 甚大, 重大.

Remember it 軽 (light) + 微 (slight) → light and barely there.

皆様みなさまには多大ただいなご迷惑めいわくをおかけしました。

I have caused you all a great deal of trouble.

Usage 多大なご迷惑, 多大な影響. Read ただい. 多大なご迷惑をおかけしました is the standard workplace apology.

Remember it 多 (many) + 大 (great) → much of it, and large with it.

莫大ばくだいな費用ひようがかかる見込みこみだ。

It is expected to cost an immense amount.

Usage 莫大な費用, 莫大な財産 — vast in quantity or money. Read ばくだい. Stronger than 多大, and used almost only of figures and wealth.

Remember it 莫 (nothing beyond) + 大 (great) → so great there is nothing beyond it.

在庫ざいこが僅少きんしょうとなっております。

Stocks are running low.

Usage 僅少 — only a very little. Formal written style, seen on sales notices. 僅少差 is a narrow margin. Read きんしょう.

Remember it 僅 (barely) + 少 (few) → barely any left.

利益りえきを均等きんとうに分配ぶんぱいする。

Distributing the profits equally.

Usage 均等に分ける — dividing into exactly equal parts. 機会均等, equality of opportunity, is common. Distinct from 平等, which is equality of right and carries a moral charge.

Remember it 均 (level) + 等 (equal) → levelled out to the same amount each.

需要じゅようと供給きょうきゅうの不均衡ふきんこうが続つづいている。

The imbalance between supply and demand continues.

Usage 〜の不均衡 — an imbalance. 衡 is the beam of a balance. The noun 均衡 gives 均衡を保つ, to keep the balance. Common in economics passages.

Remember it 不 (not) + 均 (level) + 衡 (the scales) → the scales not sitting level.

彼かれの行動こうどうは不可解ふかかいとしか言いいようがない。

His behaviour can only be called baffling.

Usage 不可解な行動, 不可解な事件 — not to be explained. Far stronger than 分からない.

Remember it 不 (not) + 可 (able) + 解 (explain) → it cannot be explained.

不朽ふきゅうの名作めいさくとして読よみ継つがれている。

It is read on down the generations as an immortal masterpiece.

Usage 不朽の名作 is all but a fixed phrase. 朽 means to rot, so 不朽 is what time does not rot. Read ふきゅう.

Remember it 不 (not) + 朽 (rot) → time does not rot it.