おおらか

お

ら

か

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

na-adjective

placid; composed; serene

usually written using kana alone

Describes a calm, unruffled state of mind or atmosphere; often used for a person's temperament or a peaceful scene.

彼かの女じょはいつもおおらかで、怒おこったところを見みたことがない。
She is always placid; I've never seen her get angry.
おおらかな気き持もちで試し験けんに臨のぞんだ。
I faced the exam with a composed mind.

na-adjective

big-hearted; generous; magnanimous

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a tolerant, forgiving, and open-minded personality; often used to describe someone who accepts others' mistakes or differences without pettiness.

父ちちはおおらかな人ひとで、私わたしが失しっ敗ぱいしても決けっして怒おこらなかった。
My father is a big-hearted person; he never got angry even when I made mistakes.
おおらかな心こころで人ひとと接せっすることが大たい切せつだ。
It's important to interact with people with a generous heart.

See all 20 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉はおおらかな性せい格かくをしているto have an easygoing, big-hearted personality
彼かれはおおらかな性せい格かくをしていて、小ちいさなミスを気きにしない。
He has such a big-hearted personality that he doesn't mind small mistakes.
おおらかに構かまえるto stay calm and unfazed
トラブルが起おきても、彼かの女じょはいつもおおらかに構かまえている。
Even when trouble arises, she always stays calm and composed.
おおらかに育そだてるto raise (a child) in a relaxed, unrestrictive way
両りょう親しんは子こどもをおおらかに育そだてた。
The parents raised their child in a relaxed, unrestrictive manner.

Kanji

大large, big
多many, frequent, much

Related words· 8

寛かん大だいN1sense 2
寛大 is a formal, almost moral term for leniency or magnanimity, while おおらか describes a naturally warm, easygoing personality.
穏おだやかN3sense 1
穏やか emphasizes gentleness and calmness, often of weather or speech, while おおらか adds a sense of spaciousness and unruffled composure in temperament.
太ふとっ腹ぱら sense 2
太っ腹 is a colloquial term for someone generous with money or favors, whereas おおらか covers a broader, gentler kind of open-heartedness.
寛かん容ようN1sense 2
寛容 is a somewhat abstract, formal word for tolerance of others' faults, while おおらか is a warmer, more everyday description of an accepting personality.

Show 4 more

洒しゃ落らくN1
おおらか highlights a generous, big-hearted nature, while 洒落 focuses more narrowly on being unconstrained by formality and small details.
心こころが広ひろいN2
大らか describes someone easygoing and unbothered by small things, whereas 心が広い more specifically praises tolerance and forgiveness toward others.
豊ゆたかN3
大らか describes a generous, easygoing personality, while 豊か in this sense describes a rich, open state of mind or feeling, often paired with 心 or 気持ち.
伸のびやかN1
おおらか describes a generous, unfussy personality, while 伸びやか more broadly describes a relaxed, unconstrained quality in voice, movement, or atmosphere as well as people.

Opposites

神しん経けい質しつ
大らか describes a relaxed, easygoing person unbothered by small things, the opposite of a 神経質 person who worries over every detail.

Written forms

おおらかUsage74%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 大らか is also used but less common.
大おおらかUsage26%
Kanji form; the reading おおらか is standard.
多おおらか
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

The word is derived from the adjective 大らか (おおらか), with the root 大 (おお) meaning 'big' or 'great', and the suffix らか indicating a state or quality. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used since classical Japanese to describe a spacious, generous, or calm disposition.