Japanese word

愛想

Pronunciation

Romajiaiso

Meaning

  • nounfriendliness

Example

店員は愛想がいいです。ten in wa ai so ga i i de su

The store clerk is friendly.

Illustration for 愛想 (friendliness)

More examples

彼女は初対面の人にも愛想を振りまきます。kano jo wa hatsu tai men no hito ni mo ai so o fu ri ma ki ma su

She actively shows friendliness even to people she has just met.

Core concept

Refers to the outward warmth and pleasant attitude that helps another person feel comfortable in social interaction.

Common phrases

  • 愛想がいいai so ga i i

    be friendly

  • 愛想がないai so ga na i

    be unfriendly

  • 愛想のいいai so no i i

    friendly

  • 愛想を振りまくai so o fu ri ma ku

    show friendliness

Similar words

人当たりhitoatari: The way a person treats others, often showing a calm and pleasant manner.
愛嬌aikyō: A charming quality that makes a person pleasant and likable.

Definition in Japanese

相手に親しみを感じさせる、感じのよい振る舞い。ai te ni shita shi mi o kan ji sa se ru kan ji no yo i fu ru ma i

Word origin

愛想 (aiso, "friendliness") is a kanji compound of 愛 (ai, "affection") and 想 (sō, "thought or feeling"), with the shortened reading developing from あいそう (aisō).

Usage tips

  • English friendliness often suggests a personal quality, while 愛想 (aiso) can focus more specifically on the polite warmth displayed during an interaction.

Opposites

  • 無愛想muaisounfriendlyna-adjective

Word lists with this word