精力的
seiryokuteki[se̞ːɾʲo̞kɯ̟te̞kʲi]
The English word energetic is translated into Japanese as 精力的 (seiryokuteki) or エネルギッシュ.
Meaning: possessing, exerting, or displaying energy (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 精力的 | seiryokuteki | [se̞ːɾʲo̞kɯ̟te̞kʲi] (narrow) |
| エネルギッシュ | enerugisshu | [e̞ne̞ɾɯ̟ɡʲiɕːɨ] (narrow) |
To describe someone or something possessing, exerting or displaying energy, you can use either 精力的 or エネルギッシュ.
Which one should you use?
精力的 is used to describe a vigorous or energetic manner of approaching tasks, such as working or conducting business. In contrast, エネルギッシュ is a loanword from English and is typically used in casual, everyday conversation to describe a person's general vibe or personality.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because エネルギッシュ is a na-adjective, you must add な when it directly modifies a noun, such as エネルギッシュな人 (an energetic person).
How do you pronounce it?
seiryokuteki
Did you know?
- The word エネルギッシュ is actually a way of speaking German, not English. It is a loanword borrowed from the German adjective energisch rather than the English 'energetic'.
- While エネルギッシュ describes a person's vibe, the word 精力的な (seiryokuteki-na) can sometimes imply a heavy physical or sexual stamina in specific contexts. This is because 精力 (seiryoku) literally refers to 'vital force' or 'sexual energy'.
- In Japanese, the word 元気 (genki) is the most common way to say someone is 'energetic' or 'full of life', yet it is also the standard word for 'hello' or 'how are you'.
Examples in context
- 彼女のエネルギッシュで独裁的な性格を思い出した。I recalled her as an energetic, autocratic personality.This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of エネルギッシュ to describe a personality.Tatoeba #12655076 by Ninja, translation #8824579 by Hybrid
- 父は今年喜寿を迎えたが、わたしなんかよりよほどエネルギッシュだ。My father celebrated his seventieth birthday this year, but he's more energetic than I am.This sentence shows how to use エネルギッシュ when comparing the energy levels of two people.Tatoeba #1118890 by mookeee, translation #2674464 by WestofEden
- 彼はいつも元気で活気に満ちています。He is always energetic and full of vitality.
- 彼女は活発な性格で、いつも元気に仕事をこなしています。She has an energetic personality and always handles her work with enthusiasm.
- 彼はいつもテンションが高くて、パーティーが盛り上がるんだよね。He is always full of energy, making the party lively.
- 彼は精力的な研究で有名だ。Kare wa seiryokuteki na kenkyuu de yuumei da.He is famous for his energetic research.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Hiroto are discussing a new colleague's work style.
- 陽葵 Himari新しい同僚は本当に精力的に働きますね。Atarashii douryou wa hontou ni seiryokuteki ni hatarakimasu ne.The new colleague really works energetically, doesn't he?
- 大翔 Hirotoええ、いつも全力で取り組んでいます。Ee, itsumo zenryoku de torikumide imasu.Yes, he always puts all his effort into everything.
- 陽葵 Himariあんなに精力的に動けると羨ましいです。Anna ni seiryokuteki ni ugokeru to urayamashii desu.I envy being able to move around so energetically.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕たちも負けないように頑張りましょう。Bokutachi mo makenai you ni ganbarimashou.Let's do our best so we don't lose to him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “energetic” translations and entries 精力的, エネルギッシュ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries エネルギッシュ, 精力的, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
