Translation guide
The English word 'decent' covers several distinct meanings: acceptable/good enough, morally proper, kind/respectable, and adequate in amount. Japanese uses different words and phrases for each. This guide breaks them down by intended meaning.
Expressing that something meets a basic standard, is satisfactory, or not bad.
The food was decent. · He's a decent player. · I got a decent score.
A very common, casual way to say something is 'so-so' or 'decent'. Can be used for quality, taste, performance, etc.
このレストラン、まあまあだね。
This restaurant is decent.
Similar to まあまあ, meaning 'passable' or 'decent'. Often used for skills or quantities.
Means 'tolerable' or 'not bad'. Slightly more formal than まあまあ.
Literally 'not bad'. A common understated way to say something is decent or pretty good.
この映画、悪くないよ。
This movie is decent.
Means 'proper' or 'decent' in the sense of being respectable or of acceptable quality. Often used for things like meals, jobs, or clothing.
ちゃんとした食事をとりなさい。
Eat a decent meal.
Describing a person or behavior that is honest, fair, and follows social norms.
He's a decent human being. · That's not a decent way to behave. · She comes from a decent family.
Means 'sensible', 'decent', or 'respectable'. Often used for people, jobs, or behavior. Implies not being crazy or improper.
彼はまともな人間だ。
He's a decent person.
まともな仕事を探している。
I'm looking for a decent job.
Means 'proper', 'neat', or 'decent'. Emphasizes correctness and orderliness. Used for people, appearance, or behavior.
きちんとした服装で来てください。
Please come in decent attire.
Similar to きちんとした, meaning 'proper' or 'decent'. Often used for people, jobs, or things that meet a standard.
ちゃんとした人と結婚しなさい。
Marry a decent person.
Means 'sensible' or 'having good sense'. A more formal way to describe a decent, reasonable person.
彼は良識のある判断をした。
He made a decent judgment.
Describing someone who is nice, helpful, or fair in their actions.
It was decent of him to help. · She's a really decent person.
The standard word for 'kind' or 'nice'. When 'decent' means 'kind', this is the best fit.
彼はとても親切な人だ。
He's a very decent person.
Means 'gentle' or 'kind'. Can be used when 'decent' implies warmth and kindness.
彼女は優しい言葉をかけてくれた。
She said some decent words to me.
Means 'good-natured' or 'kind-hearted'. Used to describe someone who is fundamentally decent and kind.
彼は人がいいから、頼みやすい。
He's a decent guy, so he's easy to ask favors of.
Expressing that a quantity or size is sufficient or fairly large.
We made a decent profit. · There's a decent chance of rain. · He ate a decent amount.
Means 'considerable' or 'a decent amount of'. Used for quantities, distances, etc.
かなりの数の人が集まった。
A decent number of people gathered.
Means 'considerable' or 'substantial'. Slightly more formal than かなりの.
彼は相当な財産を持っている。
He has a decent fortune.
Means 'quite a lot' or 'decent amount'. Can be used in casual and polite contexts.
結構なお金がかかった。
It cost a decent amount of money.
When used before a noun, it means 'a decent' or 'a fair amount'. More casual.
まあまあの給料をもらっている。
I earn a decent salary.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'decent'. Translating it as 適切な (tekisetsu na) or 妥当な (datou na) often sounds unnatural. Choose the option that matches your intended meaning.
These three are often interchangeable for 'decent' in the sense of 'proper', but have nuances: まとも emphasizes sanity/normalcy, ちゃんとした emphasizes meeting a standard, and きちんとした emphasizes neatness and correctness.
彼の英語はそこそこ通じる。
His English is decent enough to communicate.
試験の結果はまずまずだった。
The exam results were decent.