Japanese word

優しい

Pronunciation

Romajiyasashii

Meaning

  • i-adjectivekind, gentle

Example

先生は優しいです。sen sei wa yasa shi i de su

My teacher is kind.

Illustration for 優しい (kind)

More examples

この犬は優しいです。ko no inu wa yasa shi i de su

This dog is gentle.

その店員は客の質問に優しく答えます。so no ten in wa kyaku no shitsu mon ni yasa shi ku kota e ma su

The clerk kindly answers customers' questions.

Core concept

It describes a considerate quality shown in the way someone treats people or handles things.

Common phrases

  • 優しい人yasa shi i hito

    kind person

  • 優しい言葉yasa shi i koto ba

    kind words

  • 優しい声yasa shi i koe

    gentle voice

Similar words

親切shinsetsu: Being willing to help others and treating them with consideration.
温かいatatakai: Showing friendly care and emotional warmth toward people.
柔らかいyawarakai: Having a gentle quality in a voice, touch, or manner.

Definition in Japanese

他人への思いやりがあり、親切で穏やかなさま。ta nin e no omo i ya ri ga a ri shin setsu de oda ya ka na sa ma

Word origin

The native Japanese adjective 優しい (yasashii, "kind; gentle") developed from older やさし (yasashi, "bashful; modest"), whose meaning shifted toward considerate behavior.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 優しい (yasashii, "kind; gentle") can describe a voice, touch, or manner as well as a kind person, so it often corresponds to gentle as well as kind.

Opposites

Related words

  • 優しさyasashisakindnessnoun

Word lists with this word