利にさとい · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 利にさとい | 利にさとくない |
| Polite | 利にさといです | 利にさとくないですalso 利にさとくありません |
| Past polite | 利にさとかったです | 利にさとくなかったですalso 利にさとくありませんでした |
| Past | 利にさとかった | 利にさとくなかった |
| Te-form | 利にさとくて | 利にさとくなくて |
| Adverbial | 利にさとく | |
| Conditional | 利にさとければ | 利にさとくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 利にさとかったら | 利にさとくなかったら |
keenly aware of one's own interests; shrewd about personal gain
Describes someone who is quick to notice and act on opportunities for personal benefit, often with a slightly negative connotation of being calculating or self-serving.
He's a man who is keenly aware of his own interests and jumps at any money-making opportunity.
People who are shrewd about personal gain quickly calculate profit and loss.
Means 'calculating, mercenary' and has a stronger negative nuance of coldly weighing benefits, whereas 利にさとい can be more neutral, simply describing a keen sense of self-interest.
Most common spelling; uses kana for さとい to avoid rare kanji.
Rare kanji spelling using 聡い (wise, perceptive).
Rare kanji spelling using 敏い (quick, sharp).
Phrase composed of 利 (り, 'profit, advantage') + に + さとい (聡い/敏い, 'sharp, perceptive'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of using に to mark the area in which one is perceptive.