素朴(そぼく)

そぼく
na-adjective
simple, naive, rustic
descriptive
1. simple, plain, unaffected
Not elaborate or sophisticated; natural and unpretentious in character or appearance.
素朴(そぼく)な味(あじ)わいがある料理(りょうり)。
Cooking with a simple, homely taste.
素朴(そぼく)な人柄(ひとがら)に惹(ひ)かれた。
I was drawn to their unaffected personality.
田舎(いなか)の素朴(そぼく)な暮(く)らしに憧(あこが)れる。
I long for a simple country life.
2. naive, innocent, unsophisticated
Showing a lack of worldly experience or artifice; genuine and straightforward.
素朴(そぼく)な疑問(ぎもん)を持(も)った。
I had a simple, basic question.
Common expression
子供(こども)の素朴(そぼく)な質問(しつもん)に答(こた)えられなかった。
I couldn't answer the child's naive question.
都会(とかい)の人(ひと)から見(み)ると素朴(そぼく)に見(み)えるかもしれない。
It might look unsophisticated to city people.

Forms

  • Adverb: 素朴(そぼく)に (simply, naively)
  • Noun: 素朴(そぼく)さ (simplicity, naivety)

Common patterns

Nuance: Generally positive, implying authenticity and lack of pretense. Can be used for art (素朴派(そぼくは) = naive art), lifestyle, personality, or ideas.

Contrast: Opposite of 洗練(せんれん)された (refined, sophisticated).

Related Words

Antonym: 洗練(せんれん)
Compare: 単純(たんじゅん) (simple, simplicity)
Compare: 純粋(じゅんすい) (pure)
Compare: シンプル (simple)
Compare: 純朴(じゅんぼく) (simple and honest)
Compare: 清純(せいじゅん) (pure)
Compare: 無骨(ぶこつ) (rough)
Compare: 原始的(げんしてき) (primitive)
Compare: 手作(てづく)り感(かん) (handmade feel)
general
Added 2026.1.17 11:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
06000/06071_soboku