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すげない Japanese meaning | Kotomora

すげない

す

げ

な

い

Meanings

1

i-adjective

curt; blunt; cold; short

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person's manner or reply that is dismissively brief, unfriendly, or lacking warmth. Often used when someone is being deliberately unkind or indifferent. Compare with 素っ気ない (そっけない), which is more common and has a very similar meaning.

See also: 素っ気ない

彼かれはすげない返へん事じをし

た

。

He gave a curt reply.

そんなすげない態たい度どを取とらないでください。

Please don't take such a cold attitude.

Written forms

すげないUsage100%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 素気ない and 素気無い are rare.
素す気げない
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
素す気げ無ない
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.

Kanji

素elementary, principle, naked
気spirit, mind, air
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

素そっ気けない
More common synonym with the same meaning of 'curt, blunt, cold'. すげない is less frequent and may sound slightly more literary or old-fashioned.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to 素気 (suge) meaning 'cold, unfriendly' plus the adjectival suffix ない, but the exact derivation is unclear.