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丁寧
teinei
polite
彼女は丁寧に手紙を書いた。
She wrote the letter politely.
formal
Showing care and attention to detail; thorough and meticulous.
丁寧な仕事ぶりに感心した。
I admired his meticulous work.
Often used to describe actions done with great care, not just social politeness.
formal
Polite and respectful in speech or behavior.
丁寧な言葉遣いで話す。
Speak with polite language.
Commonly used in social contexts to describe respectful communication.
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 丁寧語 (teineigo)
丁寧語 refers specifically to polite language forms (e.g., です/ます), while 丁寧 describes the attitude or quality of actions/speech. For example, 丁寧な言葉遣い means 'polite language use,' while 丁寧語 is the grammatical form of politeness.
Gold Rule
Use 丁寧 for attitude, not just formality
While 丁寧 can describe polite language, it primarily emphasizes the care and thoroughness behind an action. For example, 丁寧に掃除する means 'clean thoroughly and carefully,' not just 'clean politely.'
Word Origin
From the kanji 丁 (chō, 'even' or 'orderly') and 寧 (nei, 'peaceful' or 'calm'), originally meaning 'orderly and peaceful.' The sense of 'meticulous' or 'polite' developed over time through association with careful and respectful conduct.
Usage Notes
丁寧 can describe both actions (e.g., writing carefully) and speech (e.g., polite language). It is often used in formal or professional contexts but can also imply genuine care, not just superficial politeness.
Word Breakdown
丁
orderly, even
kanji寧
peaceful, calm
kanji和英辞典