Japanese Conversation · Level 37
90 words
Japanese word
まとも
Pronunciation
Romajimatomo
Meaning
- na-adjectivedecent
Example
あの人はまともな人です。a no hito wa ma to mo na hito de su
That person is decent.
More examples
この町で、彼はまともな仕事を見つけました。ko no machi de kare wa ma to mo na shi goto o mi tsu ke ma shi ta
He found a decent job in this town.
Core concept
It describes something that is sound and acceptable by normal standards rather than strange, careless, or improper.
Common phrases
まともな生活ma to mo na sei katsu
decent life
まともな仕事ma to mo na shi goto
decent job
まともに働くma to mo ni hatara ku
work properly
Similar words
真っ当mattō: It describes a person, action, or way of thinking that is proper and socially acceptable.
適切tekisetsu: It describes something suitable for a particular purpose, situation, or need.
妥当datō: It describes an idea, choice, or judgment that is reasonable and justified.
堅実kenjitsu: It describes a person, plan, or way of doing things that is steady and reliable.
Definition in Japanese
考え方や行動が常識に合い、信用できる状態であるさま。kanga e kata ya kō dō ga jō shiki ni a i shin yō de ki ru jō tai de a ru sa ma
Word origin
The word 真面 (matomo, "true face") contains 真 (ma, "true") and 面 (omo, "face or surface"); its sense moved from facing something directly to describing people or things that meet ordinary standards.
Usage tips
- In everyday Japanese, まともな (matomo na) can describe a person, plan, or service that meets normal standards, so decent often means reliable rather than merely polite.
Other meanings
- sensiblena-adjective
- respectablena-adjective
Opposites
- 非常識hijōshikiunreasonablena-adjective
Related words
- まともさmatomosadecencynoun