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教養ある
kyōyō aru
cultured
彼は教養ある紳士だ。
He is a cultured gentleman.
formal
having a broad knowledge of arts, literature, and other intellectual subjects; refined in manner
教養ある会話ができる人
a person who can have cultured conversations
教養ある態度で接する
to treat someone with cultured manners
Often used to describe someone with refined tastes or intellectual depth, not just formal education.
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing
While 教養ある is positive, overusing it can sound pretentious. Prefer simpler terms like 知的な (intellectual) or 洗練された (refined) in casual contexts.
Gold Rule
Context matters
教養ある is rarely used to describe objects (e.g., not for 'a cultured wine'). Reserve it for people or their behavior.
Word Origin
From 教養 (kyōyō, 'culture' or 'education') + ある (aru, 'to have' or 'to possess'). 教養 itself derives from 教 (kyō, 'teaching') + 養 (yō, 'nurturing'), reflecting the idea of nurturing knowledge and refinement.
Usage Notes
Used to describe individuals or their behavior, often in contexts emphasizing intellectual or artistic refinement. More formal than casual speech; common in written Japanese or polite conversation.
Word Breakdown
教養
culture, education, refinement
nounある
to have, to possess
verb (copula)和英辞典