Translation guide
The desire to learn, ask questions, or explore. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns describing curiosity, adjectives for inquisitive people, and phrases about asking questions or investigating.
Expressing a strong interest in learning or knowing things, often in a positive sense.
The most common and neutral word for 'curiosity' or 'inquisitiveness'. Can be used in most contexts.
彼は好奇心が旺盛だ。
He has a strong sense of curiosity.
子供の好奇心を大切にしたい。
I want to nurture children's inquisitiveness.
Describes a person who always wants to know things, sometimes with a nuance of being nosy. Often used for children or in light teasing.
うちの子は本当に知りたがりで、何でも質問する。
My child is really inquisitive and asks about everything.
A more formal or literary term for a spirit of inquiry or intellectual inquisitiveness, often used in academic or philosophical contexts.
彼の探求心は学問の世界で高く評価された。
His inquisitiveness was highly valued in the academic world.
Focusing on the act of asking questions, sometimes with a negative nuance of being too nosy or intrusive.
Literally 'question-loving'. Describes someone who enjoys asking questions, often in a positive or neutral way.
彼女は質問好きで、授業中よく手を挙げる。
She is inquisitive and often raises her hand in class.
An idiom meaning to ask questions persistently and in great detail, often implying nosiness or prying.
Can sound negative; use carefully.
彼は私の過去を根掘り葉掘り聞いた。
He inquisitively asked me all about my past.
A noun or suru-verb meaning prying or inquisitive investigation into someone's private affairs. Often negative.
Inquisitiveness in the context of research, investigation, or systematic exploration.
Similar to 探求心 but more commonly used for scientific or systematic inquiry. Emphasizes the process of investigation.
科学者には探究心が不可欠だ。
Inquisitiveness is essential for a scientist.
Describes someone who is enthusiastic about research or study; an inquisitive and diligent researcher.
彼は研究熱心な学生だ。
He is an inquisitive student (devoted to research).
好奇心 (curiosity) is general and can be about anything, while 探究心 (spirit of inquiry) implies a deeper, more systematic investigation, often intellectual or scientific.
English often uses 'inquisitiveness' as a noun, but Japanese more naturally uses adjectives or phrases like 好奇心旺盛 (full of curiosity) or 知りたがり (wanting to know). Using a direct noun may sound stiff.
彼の詮索にはうんざりだ。
I'm fed up with his inquisitiveness.