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そつがない Japanese meaning | Kotomora

そつがない

そ

つ

が

な

い

Meanings

1

expression, i-adjective

cautious; careful; shrewd; faultless

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person or action that is thorough, leaves no loose ends, and avoids mistakes or offense. Often used in negative form そつのない to mean 'flawless' or 'without oversight'.

See also: そつのない

彼かれの仕し事ごとはいつもそつがない

。

His work is always flawless.

そつのない対たい応おうで、クレームをうまく収おさめた。

With a tactful response, she skillfully settled the complaint.

Written forms

ソツがない
kana-only spelling
Katakana variant, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
卒そつがない
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 卒 is not standard for this meaning. Included for recognition.

Kanji

卒graduate, soldier, private

Similar words

そつのない
Attributive form (連体形) of そつがない, used before nouns, e.g., そつのない人 (a flawless person).
抜ぬかりない
Similar meaning of 'without oversight', but 抜かりない focuses more on not missing details, while そつがない also implies social grace and prudence.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. そつ may be related to 卒 (sotsu, 'graduate' or 'soldier'), but the connection is unclear. The phrase is idiomatic and not derived from a literal kanji meaning.