繊細な
sensai na
In Japanese, the word for "delicate" is 繊細な (sensai na).
While "delicate" in English can refer to things that are easily damaged, in Japanese, 繊細な is most commonly used to describe sensitive human emotions, fine-tuned senses or artistic sensibilities.
Meaning: easily damaged or requiring careful handling (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
繊細な is a na-adjective. In its plain assertive form, it becomes 繊細だ (is delicate).
How do you pronounce it?
sensai na
Did you know?
- To describe a 'delicate' physical object like a glass vase, Japanese speakers often use 壊れやすい (kowareyasui), which literally means 'easy to break' rather than using 繊細な.
- The kanji for 繊 (sen) is part of a character that originally referred to fine silk threads, which is why the word carries a sense of intricate, woven texture.
- When describing a 'delicate' situation or a 'delicate' topic, Japanese people often use デリケート (derikēto), a loanword from English, to sound more modern.
Examples in context
- 非常に繊細な問題だ。It's a very delicate question.This sentence is useful for describing a very delicate question using 繊細な.Tatoeba #204895 by KK_kaku_, translation #42137 by Eldad
- トムは繊細な感覚を持っている。Tom is a delicate person.This sentence is useful for describing a person with delicate senses using 繊細な.Tatoeba #8571324 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #9987554 by tsp_2
- この繊細なガラス細工を見てください。Kono sensai na garasu zaiku o mite kudasai.Please look at this delicate glassware.
- 1 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are looking at a piece of art in a museum.
- 美咲 Misakiこの彫刻はとても繊細な造りですね。Kono choukoku wa totemo sensai na tsukuri desu ne.This sculpture has a very delicate structure, doesn't it?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、とても壊れやすそうです。Hai, totemo kowareyasu sou desu.Yes, it looks very fragile.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんも、触らないように気を付けて。Youta-san mo, sawaranai you ni ki o tsukete.Yota, be careful not to touch it too.
- 陽太 Yotaわかった、気を付けるよ。Wakatta, ki o tsukeru yo.I understand, I'll be careful.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
