よそよそしい

よ

そ

よ

そ

し

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

よそよそしい · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	よそよそしい	よそよそしくない
Polite	よそよそしいです	よそよそしくないですalso よそよそしくありません
Past polite	よそよそしかったです	よそよそしくなかったですalso よそよそしくありませんでした
Past	よそよそしかった	よそよそしくなかった
Te-form	よそよそしくて	よそよそしくなくて
Adverbial	よそよそしく
Conditional	よそよそしければ	よそよそしくなければ
Tara conditional	よそよそしかったら	よそよそしくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

distant; cold; standoffish

usually written using kana alone

Describes behavior or attitude that is unfriendly, aloof, or keeping someone at arm's length, often unexpectedly from someone previously close.

彼かれは最さい近きん、私わたしに対たいしてよそよそしい。
He has been distant toward me lately.
よそよそしい態たい度どをとられて、悲かなしかった。
I was saddened by the cold attitude I received.

See all 16 example sentences ›

Kanji

余too much, myself, surplus
所place, extent

Related words

水みず臭くさいN1
よそよそしい describes cold, unfriendly distance in general, while 水臭い specifically criticizes someone close for acting like a stranger by hiding things or being overly formal.
近ちかづきがたいN1
よそよそしい describes a person's cold, distant manner toward someone, while 近づきがたい describes the general impression that makes people hesitate to approach at all.

Opposites· 5

フレンドリー
よそよそしい means cold or distant in manner, the opposite of the warm approachability described by フレンドリー.
馴なれ馴なれしいN2
よそよそしい describes someone acting coldly distant, the opposite of 馴れ馴れしい's overly close, familiar behavior.
人ひと懐なつっこいN3
よそよそしい describes cold, distant behavior toward others, the opposite of the warm openness of 人懐っこい.

Show 2 more

気きさくN1
よそよそしい describes cold, distant behavior toward others, contrasting with the warm openness of 気さく.
親したしいN3
よそよそしい describes someone acting cold or aloof toward another person, contrasting with the warm familiarity of 親しい.

Written forms

よそよそしいUsage99%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
余よ所そ余よ所そしいUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.

Etymology

Derived from よそ (other place, outside) reduplicated and combined with the adjectival suffix しい, suggesting an attitude that treats someone as an outsider.