大人しい · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 大人しい | 大人しくない |
| Polite | 大人しいです | 大人しくないですalso 大人しくありません |
| Past polite | 大人しかったです | 大人しくなかったですalso 大人しくありませんでした |
| Past | 大人しかった | 大人しくなかった |
| Te-form | 大人しくて | 大人しくなくて |
| Adverbial | 大人しく | |
| Conditional | 大人しければ | 大人しくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 大人しかったら | 大人しくなかったら |
gentle; quiet; docile; well-behaved
Describes a person or animal that is calm, not aggressive, and easy to handle. Often used for children, pets, or someone with a mild temperament.
彼女はとてもおとなしい人です。
She is a very gentle person.
この犬はおとなしくて、子供にも安全です。
This dog is docile and safe around children.
quiet (color/pattern); sober; subdued
Used for colors, patterns, or designs that are not flashy or loud; understated and tasteful.
このネクタイは色がおとなしいですね。
This tie has a quiet color, doesn't it?
The child became quiet after being scolded.
She always wears clothes in subdued colors.
Behave yourself at the hospital, okay?
That dog is big, but surprisingly gentle despite its looks.
従順 emphasizes obedience to others' wishes, while 大人しい simply describes a calm, non-aggressive nature without implying obedience.
おとなしい describes a generally gentle, quiet personality, while 神妙 describes a temporary, situation-induced meekness such as after being scolded.
大人しい describes a calm, gentle, or quiet demeanor that may or may not involve shyness, while 内気 specifically describes a shy or bashful disposition.
おとなしい describes a calm, well-behaved child, the opposite of a 腕白 (rowdy, mischievous) one.