大人おとなしい

お

と

な

し

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

大人しい · i-adjective

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

Meanings

i-adjective

gentle; quiet; docile; well-behaved

usually written using kana alone

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.

彼かの女じょはとてもおとなしい人ひとです。
She is a very gentle person.
この犬いぬはおとなしくて、子こ供どもにも安あん全ぜんです。
This dog is docile and safe around children.

i-adjective

quiet (color/pattern); sober; subdued

usually written using kana alone

Used for colors, patterns, or designs that are not flashy or loud; understated and tasteful.

このネクタイは色いろがおとなしいですね。
This tie has a quiet color, doesn't it?

See all 69 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉〉が大人おとなしくなるfor someone to become quiet/docile
子こ供どもは叱しかられて大人おとなしくなった。
The child became quiet after being scolded.
大人おとなしい〈物もの〉〉subdued, understated (of colors/patterns)
彼かの女じょはいつも大人おとなしい色いろの服ふくを着きている。
She always wears clothes in subdued colors.
大人おとなしくしているto stay quiet/behave oneself
病びょう院いんでは大人おとなしくしていてね。
Behave yourself at the hospital, okay?
見みかけによらず大人おとなしいsurprisingly docile, contrary to appearances
あの犬いぬは大おおきいけど、見みかけによらず大人おとなしい。
That dog is big, but surprisingly gentle despite its looks.

Kanji

大large, big
人person
温warm
和harmony, Japanese style, peace

Related words

穏おだやかN3sense 1
穏やか describes an overall calm, peaceful state (weather, mood, personality), while 大人しい focuses on a person or animal being docile and non-aggressive.
静しずかN5sense 1
静か means quiet in terms of low noise or a calm atmosphere, whereas 大人しい describes a gentle, easily-managed temperament.
従じゅう順じゅん sense 1
従順 emphasizes obedience to others' wishes, while 大人しい simply describes a calm, non-aggressive nature without implying obedience.
神しん妙みょう
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.
内うち気きN2
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.

Opposites

乱らん暴ぼうN3sense 1
乱暴 describes rough, violent behavior, the opposite of the calm, docile nature described by 大人しい.
派は手でN3sense 2
派手 describes flashy, showy colors or designs, the opposite of the subdued, understated look meant by 大人しい.
わんぱくN1
おとなしい describes a calm, well-behaved child, the opposite of a 腕白 (rowdy, mischievous) one.

Don't confuse with

大人おとなN5
大人 means 'adult' and is a noun, while 大人しい is an adjective meaning 'quiet/docile' and does not mean 'adult-like' despite sharing the kanji.
大人おとなっぽい
大人しい looks similar but means 'quiet, obedient' (temperament), whereas 大人っぽい means 'adult-like, mature-seeming' (appearance/behavior).
無む口くちN2
おとなしい describes gentle, mild-mannered behavior in general and can apply to a talkative person, while 無口 specifically means someone speaks very little.

Word family

おとなしく
meekly; obediently; quietly
大人おとなしやか
gentle; quiet; demure; mild-mannered

Written forms

大人おとなしいUsage18%
Standard kanji form, though the word is usually written in kana.
おとなしいUsage82%
Kana spelling is the most common written form.
温和おとなしい
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

Derived from the classical adjective おとなし (otonashi), meaning 'adult-like' or 'mature', from 大人 (otona, 'adult') + し (shi, adjectival suffix). The modern form おとなしい developed through regular sound change.