Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the concept of 'wise' in Japanese, focusing on wisdom, good judgment, and knowledge. It includes adjectives, nouns, and set phrases, organized by nuance and usage.
Describing a person, decision, or action that shows experience, knowledge, and sound judgment.
The most common and versatile word for 'wise' or 'clever'. It implies intelligence and good judgment. Can be used for people, decisions, or actions.
彼はとても賢い人だ。
He is a very wise person.
賢い選択をしたね。
You made a wise choice.
A more formal adjective meaning 'wise' or 'sensible'. Often used for decisions, judgments, or courses of action. It emphasizes prudence and sound reasoning.
賢明な判断だと思います。
I think it's a wise decision.
賢明な投資が将来の安定につながる。
Wise investments lead to future stability.
A literary and elegant term for 'wise' or 'intelligent', often implying innate brilliance and deep insight. Used to describe highly respected individuals.
彼女は聡明な指導者として知られている。
She is known as a wise leader.
Describing wisdom that comes from life experience, often associated with age or learning.
Literally 'to have wisdom'. This phrase emphasizes practical wisdom and knowledge, often gained through experience. It's a natural way to say someone is wise.
祖母は人生の知恵がある。
My grandmother has life wisdom.
彼の言葉には深い知恵がある。
His words contain deep wisdom.
Also covers this nuance, especially when referring to practical cleverness.
Means 'knowledgeable' or 'well-informed'. It focuses on having a lot of factual knowledge rather than deep judgment. Can be used for 'wise' in the sense of being learned.
彼は歴史に詳しい物知りな人だ。
He is a wise person who knows a lot about history.
Describing how something is done wisely.
The adverbial form of 賢い. Used to say 'wisely' or 'cleverly'.
彼は賢く立ち回った。
He acted wisely.
賢くお金を使いなさい。
Use your money wisely.
Adverbial form of 賢明な, meaning 'wisely' or 'prudently'. More formal.
彼は賢明に行動した。
He acted wisely.
Referring to a short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice.
The standard word for 'proverb' or 'wise saying'.
「急がば回れ」ということわざを知っていますか。
Do you know the wise saying 'Haste makes waste'?
Refers to a 'maxim' or 'aphorism', often more formal and philosophical than ことわざ.
Expressing the process of gaining wisdom.
Literally 'to become wise'. A natural way to express gaining wisdom or learning.
失敗から賢くなった。
I became wise from my mistakes.
Means 'to acquire wisdom' or 'to become knowledgeable', often through experience or learning.
年を取ると知恵がつく。
As you get older, you become wise.
Referring to a person renowned for their wisdom.
The standard word for 'wise person' or 'sage'. Often used in philosophical or historical contexts.
ソクラテスは古代ギリシャの賢者だ。
Socrates was a wise man of ancient Greece.
A more literary term for 'philosopher' or 'wise man', emphasizing deep thinking.
賢い (kashikoi) is a general adjective for 'wise' or 'clever', used in everyday speech. 賢明な (kenmei na) is more formal and emphasizes prudence and sound judgment, often used in writing or formal speech about decisions and actions.
The English slang 'wise guy' (a sarcastic or know-it-all person) does not translate directly to any of these terms. For that nuance, consider 知ったかぶり (shittakaburi, 'know-it-all') or 生意気な (namaiki na, 'cheeky').
賢い人は経験から学ぶ。
A wise person learns from experience.
彼はよく古代の格言を引用する。
He often quotes ancient wise sayings.
彼は現代の哲人と呼ばれている。
He is called a modern-day wise man.