Japanese word

気兼ね

Pronunciation

Romajikigane

Meaning

  • nounreserve

Example

彼には気兼ねなく話せます。kare ni wa ki ga ne na ku hana se ma su

I can talk to him without reserve.

Illustration for 気兼ね (reserve)

More examples

先生には気兼ねなく質問できます。sen sei ni wa ki ga ne na ku shitsu mon de ki ma su

I can ask the teacher questions without hesitation.

Core concept

Describes holding oneself back because consideration for another person makes free action or speech feel inappropriate.

Common phrases

  • 気兼ねなく質問するki ga ne na ku shitsu mon su ru

    ask without hesitation

  • 気兼ねなく相談するki ga ne na ku sō dan su ru

    consult without hesitation

  • 気兼ねなく話しかけるki ga ne na ku hana shi ka ke ru

    speak to someone without hesitation

Similar words

遠慮enryo: Restraint in speech or action caused by consideration for another person.
躊躇chūcho: A feeling of being unable to decide whether to take action.

Definition in Japanese

相手に遠慮して、自由に話したり行動したりするのをためらう気持ち。ai te ni en ryo shi te ji yū ni hana shi ta ri kō dō shi ta ri su ru no o ta me ra u ki mo chi

Word origin

The noun 気兼ね (kigane, "reserve") combines 気 (ki, "feeling") with 兼ね (kane), the stem of 兼ねる (kaneru, "to find difficult to do"), expressing a feeling that makes one hold back.

Usage tips

  • The idea in 気兼ね (kigane) is situational, so a person may feel it toward a senior, host, or busy colleague without lacking confidence.

Other meanings

  • hesitationnoun
  • constraintnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 気兼ねするkiganesuruhesitateverb

Word lists with this word