上うわっ調ちょう子し

う

わ

っ

ちょ

う

し

Common word

Meanings

na-adjective, noun

flippant; frivolous; shallow

Describes a person or attitude that is thoughtlessly cheerful, lacking seriousness or depth. Often used critically.

彼かれの上うわっ調ちょう子しな発はつ言げんに、周まわりは呆あきれていた。
People were exasperated by his flippant remarks.
上うわっ調ちょう子しな性せい格かくだから、大だい事じな話はなしは任まかせられない。
Because of his frivolous nature, I can't entrust important matters to him.

Usage patterns

上うわっ調ちょう子しな〈人ひと〉a flippant, frivolous person
彼かれは上うわっ調ちょう子しな人ひとで、すぐ調ちょう子しに乗のってしまう。
He's a flippant person who easily gets carried away.
上うわっ調ちょう子しに〈動どう詞し〉to do something in a flippant, shallow manner
彼かの女じょは上うわっ調ちょう子しに話はなすので、真しん剣けんに聞きいてもらえない。
She talks so flippantly that people don't take her seriously.

Kanji

上above, up
調tune, tone, meter
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

Related words

軽けい薄はくN1
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.
浅あさはかN1
浅はか describes shallow thinking or poor judgment, whereas 上っ調子 describes a flippant, frivolous attitude rather than lack of foresight.
軽けい率そつN1
軽率 emphasizes careless, rash action or decisions, while 上っ調子 emphasizes a shallow, flighty personality or tone.

Opposites

慎しん重ちょうN3
慎重 describes careful, deliberate behavior, the opposite of the thoughtless flippancy conveyed by 上っ調子.

Don't confuse with

上うわ調ちょう子し
上調子 is a musical term for a supplementary high-pitched shamisen part, unlike 上っ調子, which describes a frivolous or flippant personality.

Built from

上うわ+調ちょう子し

Etymology

Compound of 上っ (uwa', a prefix meaning 'upper' or 'superficial') and 調子 (chōshi, 'tone' or 'condition'). Literally 'superficial tone', referring to a shallow, flippant attitude.