貴とうとい

also: たっとい

と

う

と

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

貴い · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	貴とうとい	貴とうとくない
Polite	貴とうといです	貴とうとくないですalso 貴とうとくありません
Past polite	貴とうとかったです	貴とうとくなかったですalso 貴とうとくありませんでした
Past	貴とうとかった	貴とうとくなかった
Te-form	貴とうとくて	貴とうとくなくて
Adverbial	貴とうとく
Conditional	貴とうとければ	貴とうとくなければ
Tara conditional	貴とうとかったら	貴とうとくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

precious; valuable; priceless

Describes something of great worth, often emotionally or intrinsically, not just monetarily. Used for life, memories, time, etc.

命いのちは何なによりも尊とうとい。
Life is more precious than anything.
この経けい験けんは私わたしにとってとても貴たっといものだ。
This experience is very valuable to me.

i-adjective

noble; exalted; sacred

Used for people, deeds, or things that are lofty, sublime, or worthy of reverence. Often in formal or literary contexts.

彼かれの尊とうとい犠ぎ牲せいは決けっして忘わすれられない。
His noble sacrifice will never be forgotten.
この寺じ院いんは古ふるくから尊とうとい場ば所しょとされてきた。
This temple has been regarded as a sacred place since ancient times.

See all 40 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉を尊とうといと考かんがえるto regard something as precious or sacred
多おおくの文ぶん化かで自し然ぜんは尊とうといと考かんがえられている。
In many cultures, nature is regarded as sacred.
尊とうとい犠ぎ牲せいを払はらうto make a noble sacrifice
彼かれらは自じ由ゆうのために尊とうとい犠ぎ牲せいを払はらった。
They made a noble sacrifice for freedom.
尊とうとい命いのちが失うしなわれるa precious life is lost
戦せん争そうで多おおくの尊とうとい命いのちが失うしなわれた。
Many precious lives were lost in the war.
尊とうといお言こと葉ばgracious or sacred words (from a highly revered person)
天皇てんのう陛へい下かから尊とうといお言こと葉ばをいただいた。
We received gracious words from His Majesty the Emperor.

Expressions

吾あが仏ほとけ尊とうとしputting one's own beliefs on a pedestal; being narrow-minded

Kanji

尊revered, valuable, precious
貴precious, value, prize

Related words· 6

大たい切せつN5sense 1
大切 is the everyday word for something important or precious, while 貴い is more formal and adds a sense of inherent or sacred worth.
貴き重ちょうN3sense 1
貴重 stresses rarity and high value, often for objects or opportunities, whereas 貴い focuses on intrinsic, often non-material worth like life or time.
崇すう高こう sense 2
崇高 describes something lofty or sublime, usually ideals or virtues, while 貴い covers a wider range including simple preciousness as well as reverence.
神しん聖せいN1sense 2
神聖 means sacred or holy, tied to religious or ceremonial contexts, while 貴い can describe secular things like life or memories as well.

Show 2 more

高こう貴き
尊い emphasizes something as precious or worthy of reverence, such as life or sacrifice, while 高貴 focuses on noble rank or refined character.
聖せいなる
尊い emphasizes something's preciousness or nobility, whereas 聖なる specifically marks something as religiously holy or sacred.

Opposites

卑いやしいN1sense 2
卑しい describes something lowly, base, or unworthy of respect, the opposite of the noble, reverent sense of 貴い.
つまらないN5sense 1
つまらない describes something trivial or worthless, contrasting with 貴い's sense of great, often intangible, value.

Don't confuse with

尊そん敬けいN3
尊敬 is a noun/verb meaning 'to respect someone,' while 貴い is an adjective describing something as precious or noble; learners sometimes confuse them because they share the kanji 尊.
尊みこと
尊（みこと） is an archaic honorific suffix for gods and nobles, while 尊い is the common modern adjective meaning 'precious' or 'noble', sharing the same kanji but a different reading and function.

Word family

尊とうとぶN1
value; prize; esteem · respect; revere; look up to
尊とうと
value; preciousness; nobility
尊とうとき
precious; valuable; priceless · noble; exalted; sacred
尊とうとむ
value; prize; honor; respect · respect; revere; look up to

Written forms

貴いUsage14%
- たっとい
  Common kanji form; often read たっとい, but also read とうとい. High frequency in news.
- とうとい
尊いUsage80%
- とうとい
  Common kanji form; often read とうとい, but also read たっとい.
- たっとい
とうといUsage5%
Kana spelling for the reading とうとい; used when the kanji is avoided or for clarity.
たっといUsage1%
Kana spelling for the reading たっとい; used when the kanji is avoided or for clarity.

Etymology

Derived from the classical adjective 尊し/貴し (たふとし/たっとき). The kanji 尊 carries a nuance of reverence, while 貴 implies high value or nobility. The two readings とうとい and たっとい are both standard, with たっとい being a euphonic change from たふとい.