おとなしい
otonashii
The Japanese word for meek is おとなしい (otonashii).
おとなしい is used to describe someone or something as meek, quiet or gentle. It is frequently used to describe children or pets that are well-behaved and do not cause trouble. While it can describe a person's personality as being meek, it is also the standard word for describing a person or animal as being quiet or docile.
Meaning: humble, modest, or self-effacing (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the adjective おとなしい with a noun, you can attach it directly to the noun, such as in おとなしい人 (a meek person).
How do you pronounce it?
otonashii
Did you know?
- The word おとなしい shares its root with 大人 'adult'. It literally describes someone who behaves like an adult by remaining calm and composed.
- In a professional setting, calling a colleague おとなしい might be seen as a subtle criticism rather than a compliment, implying they lack presence or leadership.
- In Japanese, there is a distinction between おとなしい 'meek' and 謙虚 'humble'. The former refers to a quiet temperament, while the latter is a conscious social virtue.
Examples in context
- 彼は謙虚な人ですHe is a humble person.
- 彼は控えめな態度で話しますHe speaks with a meek attitude.
- 彼はおとなしい性格ですHe has a meek personality.
- 彼女は遠慮がちに応じましたShe responded with meekness.
- 彼はとてもおとなしい性格です。Kare wa totemo otonashii seikaku desu.He has a very meek personality.
- あの子はおとなしい子ですね。Ano ko wa otonashii ko desu ne.That child is a quiet, meek one, isn't she?
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about a new neighbor.
- 蓮 Ren新しい隣人はどんな人ですか？Atarashii rinjin wa donna hito desu ka?What kind of person is the new neighbor?
- 美咲 Misakiとてもおとなしい方ですよ。Totemo otonashii kata desu yo.She is a very meek person.
- 蓮 Renそれは安心ですね。Sore wa anshin desu ne.That is a relief.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、とても穏やかです。Hai, totemo odayaka desu.Yes, she is very gentle.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry おとなしい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
