野蛮な
yaban na
The English word "uncivilized" can be translated into Japanese as 野蛮な (yaban na).
野蛮な is used to describe behavior, customs or environments that are perceived as lacking refinement or social order. It carries the sense of being crude, barbarous, wild or uncultured.
Meaning: crude, barbarous, wild, uncultured (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the word as an adverb meaning "uncivilizedly" or "barbarically," change the ending to 野蛮に.
How do you pronounce it?
yaban na
Did you know?
- The word 野蛮 is composed of two characters meaning 'field' and 'barbarian'. Historically, it referred to people living outside the cultivated farmlands of the central empire.
- While 野蛮な describes a lack of culture, it is often used in Japanese fiction to describe literal monsters or beasts rather than just rude human behavior.
- In a humorous or ironic context, Japanese speakers might describe a messy room or a chaotic eating habit as 野蛮, treating a small social lapse as a primitive act.
Examples in context
- その人は礼儀知らずです。That person is uncivilized/rude.
- 彼の行為は蛮族的だ。His behavior is uncivilized/barbaric.
- 彼は本当に野蛮だ。He is really uncivilized/savage.
- この地域の人々は未開な部分がある。The people in this region have some uncivilized/uncultured aspects.
- 野蛮な行為は絶対に許されない。Yaban na kōi wa zettai ni yurusarenai.Barbarous acts are absolutely unacceptable.
- 彼は野蛮な生き方をしている。Kare wa yaban na ikikata o shite iru.He lives a wild lifestyle.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are watching a documentary about ancient tribes.
- 蓮 Renこの人々はとても野蛮なね。Kono hitobito wa totemo yaban na ne.These people are very uncivilized, aren't they?
- 美咲 Misakiそう思うけど、文化が違うだけだよ。Sō omou kedo, bunka ga chigau dake dayo.I think so, but it's just a different culture.
- 蓮 Renでも、あの戦い方は野蛮な気がする。Demo, ano tatakaikata wa yaban na ki ga suru.But that way of fighting feels barbaric.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮は考えすぎだよ。Ren wa kangaesugi dayo.Ren, you are overthinking it.
