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Word 124 of 2920

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素直

すなお

obedient, frank

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 素直に謝った。

    すなおにあやまった。

    I apologized without making excuses.

  2. 素直な子どもですね。

    すなおなこどもですね。

    What an agreeable child.

  3. 注意されたら、素直に聞いたほうがいい。

    ちゅういされたら、すなおにきいたほうがいい。

    When you're told off, it's best to take it without arguing.

  4. 彼女は気持ちを素直に表せない性格だ。

    かのじょはきもちをすなおにあらわせないせいかくだ。

    She is the sort of person who can't express her feelings straightforwardly.

Common patterns

素直な人
an open, agreeable person
素直に聞く
to listen without arguing
素直に認める
to admit something frankly

Memory tip

素直 is high praise in Japanese: someone who takes advice without arguing and shows feelings without twisting them. It is not servile "obedient" — the real opposite is 頑固, stubborn.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

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What does 素直 mean?