然ぜん

ぜ

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

-like; having the quality of

Suffix that attaches to nouns, forming 形容動詞 (na-adjective) stems. Often used in the pattern 〜然とする to describe a state or appearance. Productive in literary and formal contexts.

彼かれの態たい度どは実じつに紳しん士し然ぜんとしている。
His manner is truly gentleman-like.
その建たて物ものは寺じ院いん然ぜんとした雰ふん囲い気きを漂ただよわせている。
The building has a temple-like atmosphere.

See all 45 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉然ぜんとするto look/act exactly like ~ (in an emphatic, literary way)
彼かれは学がく者しゃ然ぜんとした口く調ちょうで話はなす。
He speaks in a tone that makes him seem every bit the scholar.
〈物もの〉然ぜんたる〈物もの〉an X that is thoroughly/quintessentially Y
彼かの女じょは淑しゅく女じょ然ぜんたる振ふる舞まいを見みせた。
She displayed behavior that was every inch that of a lady.

Expressions· 8

依い然ぜんとしてstill; as yet; as before
凝ぎょう然ぜんとしてmotionlessly; stock-still; quietly
当とう然ぜんながらnaturally; of course; understandably
当とう然ぜんのことa matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
毅き然ぜんとしてresolutely; with firm determination

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釈しゃく然ぜんとするbe satisfied; feel convinced
混こん然ぜん一いっ体たいとなるform a unified whole; be completely integrated
当とう然ぜんのことながらnaturally; not surprisingly; understandably; as a matter of course

Kanji

然sort of thing, so, if so

Related words

的てきN2
的 is the common, everyday suffix for '-like/-ish' and attaches freely to many nouns, while 然 is more literary and implies an inherent, essential quality.

Word family· 156

全ぜん然ぜんN5
not at all; not in the slightest · completely; entirely; wholly · very; extremely
自し然ぜんN4
nature; the natural world · natural; spontaneous; automatic · naturally; spontaneously; automatically
当とう然ぜんN3
natural; proper; reasonable; deserved · naturally; of course; as a matter of course
突とつ然ぜんN3
sudden; abrupt; unexpected
偶ぐう然ぜんN3
coincidence; chance; accident · by chance; unexpectedly; accidentally · contingency

Show 25 more

必ひつ然ぜんN1
inevitable; necessary; bound to happen · inevitability; necessity
同どう然ぜん
just like; no different from; as good as
断だん然ぜんN2
firmly; resolutely; absolutely · definitely; absolutely · by far; far and away; hands down
公こう然ぜんN1
open; public; overt
依い然ぜんN2
still; as before; unchanged
愕がく然ぜん
astonished; shocked; amazed; astounded; aghast
未み然ぜんN1
before it happens; in advance; preventive
唖あ然ぜんN1
dumbfounded; speechless; flabbergasted
俄が然ぜんN1
suddenly; abruptly; all of a sudden · very; absolutely; by far
騒そう然ぜん
noisy; uproarious; in an uproar
呆然ぼうぜんN1
dumbfounded; in a daze; stunned
平へい然ぜん
calm; composed; unruffled
毅き然ぜんN1
resolute; firm; undaunted
整せい然ぜんN1
orderly; systematic; tidy
純じゅん然ぜん
absolute; complete; utter; pure; sheer
釈しゃく然ぜん
fully satisfied; cleared of doubt; convinced
歴れき然ぜんN1
evident; clear; distinct; plain
判はん然ぜん
clearly; distinctly; evidently
茫ぼう然ぜん
dazed; bewildered; blankly
燦さん然ぜん
brilliant; radiant; sparkling
漠ばく然ぜんN1
vague; obscure; hazy; ambiguous
雑ざつ然ぜん
messy; cluttered; disorderly; chaotic
超ちょう然ぜん
detached; aloof; indifferent
決けつ然ぜん
decisive; resolute; determined
泰たい然ぜん
calm; composed; unruffled

See all 156 in Explore →

Etymology

From classical Chinese, where 然 was used as a suffix meaning 'like' or 'in the manner of'. It was adopted into Japanese and remains productive in formal and literary vocabulary.