intellectual; rational; cerebral
Describes a person, attitude, or approach that is logical, reason-based, and unemotional. Often used positively for clear thinking, but can imply a lack of warmth.
彼の理知的な説明にみんな納得した。
Everyone was convinced by his rational explanation.
彼女はとても理知的な人で、感情に流されない。
She is a very intellectual person and doesn't get carried away by emotions.
理知的 stresses rational, logical thinking, while 知的 more broadly evokes a cultivated intellectual air.
Standard kanji spelling.
Rarely used kanji form; 理知的 is preferred.
Compound of 理知 (richi, 'reason; intellect') + 的 (-teki, '-like; -ical'). 理知 itself is a combination of 理 (ri, 'logic; principle') and 知 (chi, 'knowledge; wisdom').