大人おとなしい

お

と

な

し

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

gentle; quiet; docile; well-behaved

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person or animal that is calm, not aggressive, and easy to handle. Often used for children, pets, or someone with a mild temperament.

彼かの女じょはとてもおとなしい人ひとです。
She is a very gentle person.

この犬いぬはおとなしくて、子こ供どもにも安あん全ぜんです。

This dog is docile and safe around children.

2

i-adjective

quiet (color/pattern); sober; subdued

usually written using kana alone

Used for colors, patterns, or designs that are not flashy or loud; understated and tasteful.

このネクタイは色いろがおとなしいですね。
This tie has a quiet color, doesn't it?

Written forms

大人おとなしいUsage18%
Standard kanji form, though the word is usually written in kana.
おとなしいUsage82%
Kana spelling is the most common written form.
温和おとなしい
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

大large, big
人person
温warm
和harmony, Japanese style, peace

Similar words

静しずか
静か means 'quiet' in the sense of low noise or calm atmosphere, while おとなしい refers to a person's or animal's gentle, non-aggressive nature.
穏おだやか
穏やか describes a calm, peaceful state (weather, sea, personality), whereas おとなしい emphasizes docility and lack of resistance.

Etymology

Derived from the classical adjective おとなし (otonashi), meaning 'adult-like' or 'mature', from 大人 (otona, 'adult') + し (shi, adjectival suffix). The modern form おとなしい developed through regular sound change.