Japanese word

ネガティブ

Pronunciation

Romajinegatibu

Meaning

  • na-adjectivenegative

Example

その考え方はネガティブです。so no kanga e kata wa ne ga ti bu de su

That way of thinking is negative.

Illustration for ネガティブ (negative)

More examples

そのニュースをネガティブに受け止める人もいます。so no nyū su o ne ga ti bu ni u ke to me ru hito mo i ma su

Some people take the news negatively.

Core concept

Describes an unfavorable or rejecting attitude that draws attention away from positive possibilities.

Common phrases

  • ネガティブな意見ne ga ti bu na i ken

    negative opinion

  • ネガティブな要素ne ga ti bu na yō so

    negative element

  • ネガティブに反応するne ga ti bu ni han nō su ru

    react negatively

Similar words

否定的hiteiteki: Takes an unfavorable view of an idea, plan, or situation.
悲観的hikanteki: Focuses on likely difficulties and expects an unfavorable outcome.
後ろ向きushiromuki: Lacks a positive attitude toward progress or future possibilities.

Definition in Japanese

物事の悪い面に目を向け、明るい見通しを持たないさま。mono goto no waru i men ni me o mu ke aka ru i mi tō shi o mo ta na i sa ma

Word origin

ネガティブ (negatibu) was borrowed from English negative, a word based on Latin negativus, meaning "denying" or "saying no".

Usage tips

  • Japanese ネガティブ (negatibu) commonly refers to a person's pessimistic way of thinking, whereas English negative has a wider range of uses.

Other meanings

  • pessimisticna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • ネガティブさnegatibusanegativitynoun

Word lists with this word