控えめ
hikaeme
The Japanese phrase for low key is 控えめ (hikaeme).
控えめ is used to describe something or someone as low key, modest or restrained. It can refer to a person's behavior or the degree to which a certain quality is present.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 控えめ as an adjective to describe a noun, such as a 'low-key personality', you must add the particle な (na) to form 控えめな. To use the word as an adverb, such as 'to act low-key', change the ending to 控えめに (hikaeme ni).
How do you pronounce it?
hikaeme
Did you know?
- The kanji 控 in 控えめ originally referred to a 'ledger' or 'record'. This evolved into the idea of 'keeping something in reserve' or 'holding back'.
- When using 控えめな to describe a person's amount of something, like 'a low-key amount of salt', it functions as a way to say 'just a hint'.
- In Japanese, the concept of being 'low-key' is often linked to the virtue of 'enryo', which refers to the social practice of self-restraint to avoid inconveniencing others.
Examples in context
- 展示会では、彼女はいつも控えめな態度を取っている。At exhibitions, she always maintains a low-key attitude.
- 彼は地味な洋服が好きで、派手なものは全く着ません。He likes plain clothes and never wears anything flashy.
- 今日は控えめな感じで過ごしたいんだ。I want to spend today in a low-key way.
- この日は地味目な格好で行こうよ。Let's go with a low-key outfit that day.
- 彼女は控えめに振る舞う。Kanojo wa hikaeme ni furumau.She behaves in a low-key manner.
- 彼は控えめな性格です。Kare wa hikaeme na seikaku desu.He has a low-key personality.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a colleague's personality at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui佐藤さんは、とても控えめだね。Satou-san wa, totemo hikaeme da ne.Sato-san is very low-key, isn't he?
- 蓮 Renうん、目立たないけれど優しいよ。Un, medatanai keredo yasashii yo.Yeah, he doesn't stand out, but he's kind.
- 結衣 Yuiそういうところが好きだな。Sou iu tokoro ga suki da na.I like that about him.
- 蓮 Ren確かに、落ち着いていて素敵だね。Tashikani, ochitsuite ite suteki da ne.True, he is calm and wonderful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 控えめ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
