Common word› JLPT N5 › Freq. Frequency Top 2,000 Conjugation 優しい · i-adjective
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 優やさ しい 優やさ しくない Polite 優やさ しいです 優やさ しくないです also 優やさ しくありません Past polite 優やさ しかったです 優やさ しくなかったです also 優やさ しくありませんでした Past 優やさ しかった 優やさ しくなかった Te-form 優やさ しくて 優やさ しくなくて Adverbial 優やさ しく Conditional 優やさ しければ 優やさ しくなければ Tara conditional 優やさ しかったら 優やさ しくなかったら
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 に 優やさ しい kind to someone
目め に 優やさ しい gentle on the eyes
This light is gentle on the eyes.
肌はだ に 優やさ しい gentle on the skin
This soap is gentle on the skin.
優やさ しい 人ひと a kind person
She is a very kind person.
Expressions 優やさ しい 声こえ soft voice; gentle voice; kind voice Kanji 優 tenderness, excel, surpass Related words· 10 親切 highlights considerate, helpful actions toward others, while 優しい describes a person's gentle, warm-hearted nature.
温かい (used figuratively) describes warmth of heart or feeling, while 優しい focuses on gentle, kind behavior toward people.
穏やか describes a calm, mild temperament, while 優しい emphasizes warmth and consideration toward others.
優しい is the everyday word for being kind or gentle, while 柔和 is a more formal, literary term describing a soft, calm quality in someone's character or expression.
Show 6 more Show fewer 優しい is a broad, common word for 'kind' or 'gentle', while 情け深い specifically stresses deep sympathy and readiness to help those in need.
優しい is the common, everyday word for being kind or gentle, while 細やか is a more literary word stressing warm, considerate care in detail.
優しい describes warm, personal kindness toward others, while 善良 describes an inherently good and morally upright nature.
優しい is the common, everyday word for 'kind' or 'gentle', while 温厚 is a more formal or literary term emphasizing a calm, even-tempered disposition.
優しい describes warm, personal kindness, while 寛 conveys a more formal or principled leniency and tolerance.
優しい describes a kind or gentle personality or manner in general, while やんわり specifically describes softening the delivery of a request, refusal, or criticism.
Opposites· 10 厳しい means strict or severe, the opposite of the gentle, forgiving quality of 優しい .
冷たい (used of personality) means cold-hearted, contrasting with the warm, caring nature of 優しい .
優しい means kind and gentle, the opposite of 残酷 's harsh, merciless cruelty.
Show 7 more Show fewer 優しい describes a kind, gentle person, the direct opposite of a 冷酷 one who is merciless and unfeeling.
優しい means kind and warm-hearted, the opposite of つれない 's cold, dismissive attitude toward others.
優しい describes a warm, kind attitude toward others, the opposite of the cold, dismissive manner described by 素っ気ない .
優しい describes kind, gentle behavior, the direct opposite of ひどい meaning cruel or heartless.
優しい describes gentle, kind behavior or speech, contrasting with the harsh, rough manner of 荒々しい .
優しい describes gentle, kind behavior, contrasting with the rough, aggressive manner described by 荒っぽい .
優しい describes a kind, gentle person, contrasting with 無慈悲 , which describes someone or something devoid of compassion.
Don't confuse with· 5 易しい is a homophone meaning 'easy/simple,' while 優しい means 'kind/gentle'; only the kanji distinguishes them.
優しい (kind, gentle) shares the kanji 優 with 優れる but describes personality rather than superior quality or ability.
優しい (kind, gentle) and 親しい (close, friendly) look similar in kanji but describe different qualities—kindness versus closeness.
Show 2 more Show fewer 優しい (kind, gentle) is easily confused with 卑しい by sound and spelling but has an almost opposite, positive meaning.
優しい is the common modern word for 'kind' or 'gentle', while 優 used to mean 'gentle' is literary and rarely used today.
Word family gentle-looking; kind-looking; sweet-looking
kind; tender-hearted; compassionate
somewhat kind; rather gentle
Written forms 優やさ しい Usage 59%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
やさしい Usage 41%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and for learners.
Etymology Derived from classical Japanese やさし , originally meaning 'embarrassing' or 'shy', later shifting to 'tender' and 'gentle'. The kanji 優 carries connotations of superiority and gentleness.
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