Translation guide
Describes someone who is unwilling to accept new ideas, different opinions, or ways of life. Japanese expressions range from direct personality adjectives to phrases about narrow perspectives.
narrow-minded attitude
To say someone is intolerant, prejudiced, or lacking in openness.
A direct adjective meaning narrow-minded, intolerant. Often used in formal or written contexts.
He is a narrow-minded person.
Literally 'heart is narrow'. A common, natural phrase for describing someone as petty or intolerant.
That person is narrow-minded, isn't he?
Literally 'field of vision is narrow'. Focuses on a limited perspective or inability to see the big picture.
Means narrow-minded, bigoted, or parochial. Stronger and more formal, often used in written criticism.
To characterize opinions, views, or mindsets as narrow.
Literally 'way of thinking is narrow'. A flexible phrase for describing narrow-minded attitudes.
I think his way of thinking is narrow.
A slightly old-fashioned but still used phrase meaning narrow-minded or intolerant in one's views.
Means bigoted, stubbornly narrow-minded, often with a sense of crankiness. Used for people or attitudes.
To caution that directly translating 'narrow-minded' word-for-word can sound unnatural.
English 'narrow-minded' often corresponds to phrases using 狭い (narrow) with 心 (heart), 視野 (field of vision), or 考え方 (way of thinking). Using a single adjective like 狭量 is less common in casual speech.
Directly saying 'ナローマインド' in katakana is not natural Japanese.
We don't say 'narrow-minded' as a direct loanword.
心が狭い focuses on pettiness or intolerance toward others' actions/feelings. 視野が狭い emphasizes a limited perspective or inability to see the bigger picture. Use 心が狭い for personal intolerance, 視野が狭い for intellectual narrowness.
He can't take a joke. He's narrow-minded (petty).
He has no overseas experience and is narrow-minded (limited perspective).
In Japanese, 狭い (narrow) is often combined with nouns like 心, 視野, 考え方 to express narrow-mindedness. These phrases are more common than standalone adjectives like 狭量 in everyday speech.
Don't be so narrow-minded.
Literally 'Don't make your heart so narrow.'
His narrow-minded views surprised me.
Uses nominalized form 狭さ (narrowness).
He is narrow-minded, so he doesn't accept new ideas.
偏狭な考え方は社会の進歩を妨げる。
Narrow-minded thinking hinders social progress.
Don't say such narrow-minded things.
彼は年を取って偏屈になった。
He became narrow-minded and cranky as he got older.