親 切(しんせつ)

しんせつ

na-adjective

kind, friendly

See also: 新設(しんせつ) (new establishment (homophone))

1. kind, friendly, helpful

Showing care and consideration for others. Describes a person or their behavior as warm and helpful.

彼女(かのじょ)は親切(しんせつ)な人(ひと)です。

She is a kind person.

道(みち)を親切(しんせつ)に教(おし)えてくれました。

They kindly showed me the way.

Adverbial use with に

ご親切(しんせつ)にありがとうございます。

Thank you for your kindness.

Formal expression of gratitude

彼(かれ)は親切(しんせつ)すぎて、時々(ときどき)おせっかいに思(おも)われることもある。

He's so kind that sometimes people think he's being nosy.

日本(にほん)に来(き)たばかりの時(とき)、周(まわ)りの人(ひと)たちが親切(しんせつ)にしてくれて、とても助(たす)かった。

When I first came to Japan, the people around me were kind to me and it really helped.

親切(しんせつ) is a na-adjective meaning kind or helpful.

FORMS:

Modifier: 親切(しんせつ)な人(ひと) (a kind person)
Predicate: 親切(しんせつ)だ/です
Adverbial: 親切(しんせつ)に教(おし)える (kindly teach)
Noun: 親切(しんせつ) (kindness)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

ご親切(しんせつ)にありがとうございます: thank you for your kindness (polite)
親切(しんせつ)にする: to be kind (to someone)
親切(しんせつ)にしてくれる: to be kind to me/us

CONTRAST:

不親切(ふしんせつ): unkind, unhelpful
優(やさ)しい: gentle, kind (warmer, more emotional)
親切(しんせつ): kind, helpful (more about actions and consideration)

NOTE:
親切(しんせつ) focuses on helpfulness in actions, while 優(やさ)しい is broader and includes emotional gentleness.

core

Added 2026.1.7 21:51 · Revised 2026.5.14 23:17

01000/01144_shinsetsu