Japanese word

感性

Pronunciation

Romajikansei

Meaning

  • nounsensibility

Example

彼は芸術に対する感性が鋭いです。kare wa gei jutsu ni tai su ru kan sei ga surudo i de su

He has a keen artistic sensibility.

Illustration for 感性 (sensibility)

More examples

さまざまな音楽を聴くと、感性が豊かになります。sa ma za ma na on gaku o ki ku to kan sei ga yuta ka ni na ri ma su

Listening to various kinds of music enriches one's aesthetic sense.

Core concept

Refers to the way a person detects fine qualities and gives them personal meaning through feeling and perception.

Common phrases

  • 感性を磨くkan sei o miga ku

    refine one's sensibility

  • 感性を生かすkan sei o i ka su

    use one's sensibility

  • 感性に訴えるkan sei ni utta e ru

    appeal to one's sensibility

  • 豊かな感性yuta ka na kan sei

    rich sensibility

Similar words

感受性kanjusei: The ability to notice subtle qualities and respond to them through feeling and perception.
感覚kankaku: The capacity to receive information through the senses and form a basic impression.
センスsensu: A natural ability to judge what is attractive, suitable, or skillful.

Definition in Japanese

物事の微妙な違いや美しさを感じ取って評価する心の性質。mono goto no bi myō na chiga i ya utsuku shi sa o kan ji to tte hyō ka su ru kokoro no sei shitsu

Word origin

感性 (kansei) is a Sino-Japanese formation of 感 (kan, "feeling") and 性 (sei, "quality or nature"), expressing a quality of feeling.

Usage tips

  • English sensitivity can suggest emotional reactivity, whereas 感性 (kansei) often emphasizes taste and perception in creative or aesthetic settings.

Other meanings

  • sensitivitynoun
  • aesthetic sensenoun

Word lists with this word