軽けい薄はく

け

い

は

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

na-adjective, noun

frivolous; flippant; superficial; shallow; insincere

Describes a person, attitude, or remark that lacks seriousness, depth, or sincerity; often carries a negative judgment.

彼かれの軽けい薄はくな態たい度どに腹はらが立たった。
I was annoyed by his flippant attitude.
軽けい薄はくな言こと葉ばで人ひとを傷きずつけてはいけない。
You shouldn't hurt people with shallow words.
彼かの女じょは見みかけは軽けい薄はくそうだが、実じつはとても真面目まじめだ。
She looks frivolous, but she's actually very serious.

See all 15 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

軽けい薄はくな態たい度どa frivolous, flippant attitude
彼かれは上じょう司しに対たいして軽けい薄はくな態たい度どをとった。
He adopted a flippant attitude toward his boss.
軽けい薄はくな言げん動どうfrivolous, insincere words and actions
彼かれの軽けい薄はくな言げん動どうに周まわりは呆あきれていた。
The people around him were disgusted by his frivolous words and actions.
軽けい薄はくに振ふる舞まうto behave in a flippant, insincere manner
彼かれは初しょ対たい面めんの人ひとにも軽けい薄はくに振ふる舞まうことが多おおい。
He often behaves flippantly even with people he's just met.

Kanji

軽lightly, trifling, unimportant
薄dilute, thin, weak (tea)

Related words

軽けい率そつN1
軽率 describes acting rashly without careful thought, while 軽薄 focuses on a flippant, insincere manner in speech or attitude.
浅せん薄ぱく
浅薄 emphasizes shallowness in knowledge or thinking, whereas 軽薄 emphasizes frivolity and insincerity in personality or behavior.
薄うすっぺらい
薄っぺらい is a casual, everyday word for something shallow or flimsy, while 軽薄 is a more formal term specifically judging a person's insincere character.
不ふ誠せい実じつ
不誠実 stresses a lack of sincerity or honesty in dealing with others, while 軽薄 stresses a flippant, lightweight attitude that may or may not involve dishonesty.
上うわっ調ちょう子し
軽薄 is a more formal term stressing superficiality and insincerity, while 上っ調子 is colloquial and focuses on a thoughtlessly cheerful, flippant manner.

Opposites

誠せい実じつN1
誠実 describes someone sincere and earnest, the direct opposite of 軽薄's flippant insincerity.
重じゅう厚こうN1
軽薄 describes something frivolous, shallow, or flippant, the direct opposite of the dignified weightiness expressed by 重厚.
真面目まじめN4
軽薄 describes a frivolous, shallow person who doesn't take things seriously, the opposite of a 真面目 person's earnest, responsible attitude.
厳げん粛しゅく
軽薄 means frivolous or flippant, the opposite of the dignified seriousness conveyed by 厳粛.

Don't confuse with

軽けい妙みょう
軽薄 shares the character 軽 but means shallow and frivolous in a negative sense, unlike the positive, clever lightness of 軽妙.
軽かろやか
軽薄 shares the kanji 軽 but means frivolous or shallow in a negative sense, unlike the positive, graceful lightness of 軽やか.
軽かるはずみN1
軽薄 describes a person's frivolous, insincere character, while 軽はずみ describes a specific thoughtless act or remark, not a personality trait.
軽けい率そつN1
軽薄 describes a superficial, frivolous personality, while 軽率 specifically describes rash, ill-considered actions or words.

Word family

軽けい薄はく才さい子し
shallow, glib, and obsequious person
軽けい薄はく短たん小しょう
small, light, and thin

Etymology

Compound of 軽 (light, frivolous) and 薄 (thin, shallow). The combination conveys a lack of weight or depth, extended to mean superficial or insincere in character.