さり気げない

さ

り

げ

な

い

Meanings

1

i-adjective

nonchalant; casual; unconcerned

usually written using kana alone

Describes an action or manner that appears natural, effortless, or without drawing attention, often implying deliberate casualness.

彼かれはさりげなく彼かの女じょの荷に物もつを持もってあげた。
He casually carried her luggage for her.

さりげない口く調ちょうで大だい事じなことを伝つたえた。

I conveyed the important matter in a nonchalant tone.

Written forms

さり気げないUsage13%
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling. It is usually written in kana.
さりげないUsage87%
Kana spelling is very common and matches usual-kana usage.
然さりげ無ない
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should avoid this spelling.

Kanji

気spirit, mind, air
然sort of thing, so, if so
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

何なに気げない
何気ない also means 'casual' or 'unintentional', but emphasizes lack of conscious thought, while さり気ない often implies a deliberate effort to appear casual.

Etymology

Derived from the adverb さり (thus) and 気ない (without particular feeling). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period to describe a detached, casual manner.