one's true self; plain; unadorned; unadulterated
Used for a person's unguarded nature or feelings, and for something in its bare, natural, unmodified state. Common in phrases such as 素が出る, 素の自分, and 素のまま.
His true self comes out when he gets nervous.
When he drinks, his true self quickly comes out.
I posted this photo as it was, without editing it.
Derogatory or belittling prefix before a noun. This use is limited and is mostly encountered in established words rather than freely attached to any noun.
In 素浪人, 素 has a nuance like 'mere' or 'of no account.'
Prefix before an adjective used as an intensifier. It is not freely productive in modern Japanese and is mainly recognized inside lexicalized adjectives such as 素晴らしい.
The 素 in 素晴らしい is sometimes explained as a form that works as an intensifier.
She showed me her true, unguarded self.
Many people become their true selves when they drink.
ありのまま means 'as one really is' and overlaps with 素のまま, but it is a standalone phrase without the prefix uses that 素 has.
wonderful; splendid; magnificent
lovely; wonderful; fantastic
obedient; docile; meek · honest; frank; upfront · straight (hair) · unaffected; natural; neat
very; most; greatly
quick; swift; nimble; agile · quick-witted; alert; prompt
face without makeup; unpainted face · true face; real nature; true picture · sober face; sobriety
bare hands; empty hands
leader; trace; snell
birth; lineage; parentage · identity; background; past · provenance; origin
Standard kanji spelling for the noun, no-adjective use, and prefix-like bound uses.
The spelling uses 素, a kanji conventionally associated with plainness, naturalness, and basic or unadorned qualities. The historical development of the bound prefix uses is uncertain.
face with no make-up; bare face · sobriety; being sober · having no class (in RPGs); jobless
practice swing
bare skin; naked skin
bare feet
passing through without stopping; passing by
bare thighs; inner thigh · intercrural sex
splendor; magnificence; wonderfulness
unglazed pottery; bisque; biscuit ware · grilling without seasoning; plain-grilled · plain okonomiyaki; simple okonomiyaki without extra ingredients
staying overnight without meals; room only
unmasked; without a mask · sober face; sobriety · face without makeup; unpainted face
hand of only 1-point cards (hanafuda)
genuinely; sincerely; for real
white clothes; undyed clothes · mourning dress
Chinese classic without reading aids; book without reading aids
useless card; worthless card · card worth only 1 point
simple spear; straight spear · unsheathed spear
suama; sweet mochi cake
Chinese vegetarian cuisine
suō (ceremonial dress of lower-class samurai)