Translation guide
Describes a person who is sincere, honest, and without deceit or cunning. Often implies innocence or naivety.
Describing a person who is straightforward and without hidden motives.
Means obedient, meek, or honest. Often used for someone who is straightforward and without guile, especially in a positive, childlike way.
She has a guileless personality and is liked by everyone.
Means pure or innocent. Emphasizes lack of worldly corruption, often used for someone guileless in a naive sense.
I was moved by his guileless heart.
Means innocent or artless. Often describes a childlike guilelessness, without any suspicion of deceit.
Seeing a child's guileless smile is soothing.
Means frank or candid. Focuses on directness without hidden agendas, but can sometimes be blunt rather than innocent.
He gives his frank opinion and is guileless.
Emphasizing the absence of trickery or manipulation.
Literally 'no front and back', meaning someone is straightforward and not two-faced. A common way to describe a guileless person.
He is guileless, so I can trust him.
Means 'not black-hearted'. A casual way to say someone is not scheming or malicious.
Means honest or truthful. While it covers honesty, it can imply guilelessness in the sense of not deceiving others.
Describing someone who is guileless to the point of being easily fooled.
素直 (sunao) implies a cooperative, honest nature without resistance. 純粋 (junsui) emphasizes purity and lack of corruption. 無邪気 (mujaki) is childlike innocence. For 'guileless', 素直 is the most versatile, while 純粋 and 無邪気 lean more toward naivety.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'guileless'. Using a direct translation like 無邪気 (mujaki) may sound too childish in some contexts. Choose based on the nuance: honesty, purity, or lack of cunning.
That person is guileless, so I can talk to them without worry.
正直な人ほど騙されやすい。
The more guileless a person is, the easier they are to deceive.
She is guileless, so be careful (she might be taken advantage of).