敏感
binkan
The Japanese word for sensitive is 敏感 (binkan), which is used to describe being easily affected by or responsive to external stimuli.
While the English word 'sensitive' can refer to emotional fragility or being easily offended, 敏感 is more frequently used to describe a high level of responsiveness to external stimuli, such as changes in temperature, sound or even criticism.
Meaning: easily offended (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use 敏感 to describe a high degree of perception or responsiveness to stimuli.
How does it change in a sentence?
When 敏感 is used as a predicate in a sentence (e.g., 'is sensitive'), it is typically followed by だ or です. When it is used as an attributive adjective to modify a noun directly, it takes the particle な.
How do you pronounce it?
binkan
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, being 敏感 to the atmosphere of a room is often seen as a social skill called 空気を読む or 'reading the air'. This involves sensing the unspoken feelings of others to maintain harmony.
- While English speakers might say they have a 'sensitive stomach', Japanese speakers use the word 弱い meaning 'weak' to describe this. Using 敏感 in this context would sound like the stomach is an active sensor rather than a fragile organ.
- While 敏感 describes a high sensitivity to stimuli, the word 繊細 is used for someone with a 'sensitive' or delicate artistic soul. Mixing these up can make a compliment about someone's emotional depth sound like a medical observation about their nerves.
Examples in context
- 私は寒さに敏感だ。I am very sensitive to the cold.This sentence shows how to use 敏感 to describe sensitivity to temperature.Tatoeba #157816 by bunbuku, translation #256715 by CC
- 彼は寒さに大変敏感だ。He is very sensitive to cold.Tatoeba #108789 by bunbuku, translation #294900 by CK
- あの監督は批判に対して敏感だ。The director is sensitive to criticism.This sentence shows how to use 敏感 to describe sensitivity to criticism.Tatoeba #2763601 by bunbuku, translation #48870 by CK
- 彼女は敏感な性格で、言葉に傷つきやすい。She has a sensitive personality and is easily hurt by words.
- 彼は神経質な性格で、小さなことでも気になってしまう。He is a sensitive person and gets bothered by even small things.
- 彼は繊細な心の持ち主だから、優しく接してあげてください。He is a sensitive person, so please treat him kindly.
- 彼女はデリケートな問題に関しては議論ができない。She cannot discuss sensitive topics.
- 彼は感受性が強い人間で、音楽や芸術に敏感に反応する。He is a sensitive person who reacts sensitively to music and art.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are discussing a friend's personality.
- 陽太 Yota彼は少し敏感すぎるよ。Kare wa sukoshi binkan sugiru yo.He is a little too sensitive.
- 結衣 Yui確かに、言葉を選ばないとね。Tashika ni, kotoba o erabanakuto ne.True, we have to choose our words carefully.
- 陽太 Yota細かいことにすぐ反応するんだ。Komakai koto ni sugu hannou surun da.He reacts to the smallest things immediately.
- 結衣 Yui気を遣うのが大変だね。Ki o tsukau no ga taihen da ne.It is hard to be careful around him.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
