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.
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.
彼は裏表がないから、信頼できる。
He is guileless, so I can trust him.
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.
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.
彼の純粋な心に感動した。
I was moved by his guileless heart.
Means innocent or artless. Often describes a childlike guilelessness, without any suspicion of deceit.
子供の無邪気な笑顔を見ると癒される。
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.
率直な意見を言う彼は、裏表がない。
He gives his frank opinion and is guileless.
Means 'not black-hearted'. A casual way to say someone is not scheming or malicious.
あの人は腹黒くないから、安心して話せる。
That person is guileless, so I can talk to them without worry.
Means honest or truthful. While it covers honesty, it can imply guilelessness in the sense of not deceiving others.
正直な人ほど騙されやすい。
The more guileless a person is, the easier they are to deceive.
Means a good-natured person, often too trusting. Implies guilelessness that can be taken advantage of.
彼はお人好しだから、すぐに騙される。
He is so guileless that he gets tricked easily.
Means 'easily deceived'. Describes the vulnerability that comes with being guileless.
彼女は騙されやすいから、気をつけて。
She is guileless, so be careful (she might be taken advantage of).