軽薄 (けいはく) Japanese meaning

軽薄 (けいはく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

Kanji

軽lightly, trifling, unimportant
薄dilute, thin, weak (tea)

Related words

軽けい率そつN1
軽率 describes acting rashly without careful thought, while 軽薄 focuses on a flippant, insincere manner in speech or attitude.
浅せん薄ぱく
浅薄 emphasizes shallowness in knowledge or thinking, whereas 軽薄 emphasizes frivolity and insincerity in personality or behavior.
薄うすっぺらい
薄っぺらい is a casual, everyday word for something shallow or flimsy, while 軽薄 is a more formal term specifically judging a person's insincere character.
不ふ誠せい実じつ
不誠実 stresses a lack of sincerity or honesty in dealing with others, while 軽薄 stresses a flippant, lightweight attitude that may or may not involve dishonesty.
上うわっ調ちょう子し
軽薄 is a more formal term stressing superficiality and insincerity, while 上っ調子 is colloquial and focuses on a thoughtlessly cheerful, flippant manner.

Opposites

誠せい実じつN1
誠実 describes someone sincere and earnest, the direct opposite of 軽薄's flippant insincerity.
重じゅう厚こうN1
軽薄 describes something frivolous, shallow, or flippant, the direct opposite of the dignified weightiness expressed by 重厚.
真面目まじめN4
軽薄 describes a frivolous, shallow person who doesn't take things seriously, the opposite of a 真面目 person's earnest, responsible attitude.

Don't confuse with

軽けい妙みょう
軽薄 shares the character 軽 but means shallow and frivolous in a negative sense, unlike the positive, clever lightness of 軽妙.
軽かろやか
軽薄 shares the kanji 軽 but means frivolous or shallow in a negative sense, unlike the positive, graceful lightness of 軽やか.
軽かるはずみN1
軽薄 describes a person's frivolous, insincere character, while 軽はずみ describes a specific thoughtless act or remark, not a personality trait.

Word family

軽けい薄はく才さい子し
shallow, glib, and obsequious person
軽けい薄はく短たん小しょう
small, light, and thin

Etymology

Compound of 軽 (light, frivolous) and 薄 (thin, shallow). The combination conveys a lack of weight or depth, extended to mean superficial or insincere in character.

軽けい薄はく

Meanings

Usage patterns