地じ味み

地じ味みな〈物もの〉a plain, understated (color, design, outfit, etc.)
彼かの女じょはいつも地じ味みな色いろの服ふくを着きている。
She always wears clothes in subdued colors.
地じ味みな性せい格かくa quiet, unassuming personality
彼かれは地じ味みな性せい格かくで、あまり目め立だたない。
He has a reserved personality and doesn't stand out much.
地じ味みに〈動どう詞し〉to (do something) more than you'd expect; quietly (do something)
この作さ業ぎょう、地じ味みに時じ間かんがかかる。
This task actually takes surprisingly long.
地じ味みに〈形けい容よう詞し〉surprisingly, more ... than expected
その料りょう理りは地じ味みに辛からい。
That dish is surprisingly spicy.

Kanji

地ground, earth
味flavor, taste

Related words

控ひかえめ sense 2
地味 focuses on a lack of flashiness in appearance or manner, while 控えめ emphasizes deliberate restraint in action, speech, or quantity.
質しっ素そN2sense 1
地味 describes plainness of look or style, while 質素 stresses frugality and simplicity, often about lifestyle or spending.
落おち着ついた
地味 means plain or unadorned, while 落ち着いた suggests a quiet, tasteful restraint rather than mere plainness.
冴さえないN1
地味 means plain or subdued in style, while 冴えない specifically implies an unappealing or unattractive look that fails to impress.

Opposites· 11

派は手でN3sense 1
showy; flashy; gaudy; loud
おしゃれN3
おしゃれ describes a stylish, eye-catching look, while 地味 describes a plain, understated one.
華はなやかN2
地味 means plain and unadorned, the direct opposite of the bright, showy quality of 華やか.

Show 8 more

華はな々ばなしいN1
地味 describes something plain, subdued, or unshowy, the direct opposite of the dazzling grandeur of 華々しい.
センセーショナル
地味 means plain or understated, the opposite of センセーショナル, which describes something dramatic and attention-grabbing.
きらびやかN1
地味 describes something plain and unadorned, the direct opposite of the flashy sparkle of きらびやか.
くどいN2
地味 describes subdued, plain colors or designs, the opposite of くどい's loud, gaudy look.
ビビッド
地味 describes colors or styles as plain and subdued, the direct opposite of ビビッド's bright, striking vividness.
カラフル
地味 describes something plain or subdued in color and style, contrasting with カラフル's bright, lively look.
鮮あざやかN2
地味 describes something plain or subdued in appearance, contrasting with the eye-catching brilliance of 鮮やか.
華か奢しゃN1
地味 describes something subdued and unremarkable, contrasting with the flashy extravagance of 華奢 (かしゃ).

Don't confuse with

滋じ味み
地味 (plain, unshowy) and 滋味 (a rich, nourishing flavor) are pronounced identically but have completely different meanings and kanji.
地じ道みちN2
地味 describes plain, subdued appearance or style, while 地道 describes steady, honest effort or attitude; learners often mix them up due to the similar sound and shared kanji 地.

Word family

地じ味み婚こん
simple wedding; modest wedding

Written forms

地じ味みUsage92%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and everyday use.
じみUsage5%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.
ジミUsage3%

Etymology

Compound of 地 (ground, earth) and 味 (taste, flavor), literally 'earthy taste'. The meaning shifted to 'plain' or 'sober' in contrast to flashy styles.