デリケート

also: デリケイト

デ

リ

ケ

ー

ト

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

sensitive; easily hurt

Describes a person's emotional sensitivity or a heart that is easily wounded.

彼かの女じょはデリケートな心こころの持もち主ぬしだ。
She has a sensitive heart.

2

delicate; sensitive

Used for issues, problems, or topics that require careful handling to avoid trouble or offense.

それはデリケートな問もん題だいだから、慎しん重ちょうに話はなし合あおう。
That's a delicate issue, so let's discuss it carefully.

3

fragile; delicate; sensitive

Refers to physical fragility or sensitivity, such as easily damaged objects or sensitive skin.

このガラス細工ざいくはとてもデリケートだ。
This glasswork is very delicate.
デリケートな肌はだに合あう化け粧しょう品ひんを探さがしている。
I'm looking for cosmetics suitable for sensitive skin.

4

delicate; subtle

Describes fine, subtle qualities in fabric, color, flavor, etc., often with a positive aesthetic nuance.

このドレスはデリケートなレースで飾かざられている。
This dress is decorated with delicate lace.

See all 27 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

デリケートな問もん題だいa delicate/sensitive issue (needs careful handling)
この件けんはとてもデリケートな問もん題だいなので、慎しん重ちょうに話はなし合あいましょう。
This matter is a very delicate issue, so let's discuss it carefully.
デリケートな肌はだsensitive/delicate skin
デリケートな肌はだには刺し激げきの少すくない化け粧しょう品ひんがいい。
Mild, low-irritation cosmetics are good for sensitive skin.
〈事こと〉をデリケートに扱あつかうto handle something delicately/with care
その話わ題だいはデリケートに扱あつかう必ひつ要ようがある。
That topic needs to be handled delicately.
デリケートな味あじわいa subtle, delicate flavor
このワインはデリケートな味あじわいが特とく徴ちょうだ。
This wine is characterized by its subtle, delicate flavor.
デリケートな心こころa sensitive, easily hurt heart
彼かの女じょはデリケートな心こころを持もっているので、言こと葉ばには気きをつけたい。
She has a sensitive heart, so I try to be careful with my words around her.

Related words

繊せん細さいN1
繊細 is a native Japanese word for delicacy or fineness, often used for craftsmanship or emotional subtlety, and sounds more formal than デリケート.
敏びん感かんN1sense 1
敏感 stresses acute physical or emotional sensitivity, while デリケート often adds a nuance of fragility or the need for careful handling.
微び妙みょうN3sense 4
微妙 describes a subtle, hard-to-pin-down quality or nuance, close to デリケート's aesthetic sense of fine subtlety in flavor or color.
脆ぜい弱じゃく sense 3
脆弱 is a stronger, more clinical word for physical fragility or weakness, whereas デリケート can also imply something needing gentle handling rather than being outright weak.
神しん経けい質しつ
デリケート is a loanword often used for delicate situations, health, or sensitive topics, while 神経質 focuses more on a person's nervous or fussy temperament.

Opposites

鈍どん感かんN1sense 1
鈍感 describes someone insensitive or slow to notice feelings, the opposite of a デリケート person who is easily hurt.
頑がん丈じょうN2sense 3
頑丈 describes something sturdy and hard to break, the opposite of a デリケート object that is fragile and easily damaged.

Written forms

デリケートUsage100%
Standard katakana loanword from English 'delicate'.
デリケイト
Rare alternative spelling; デリケート is overwhelmingly more common.

Etymology

Loanword from English 'delicate', adopted into Japanese with the same broad range of meanings.