しおらしい
しおらしい
i-adjective
meek; demure; modest
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | しおらしい | しおらしくない |
| Past | しおらしかった | しおらしくなかった |
| て form | しおらしくて | しおらしくなくて |
| Adverbial | しおらしく | — |
| Conditional ば | しおらしければ | しおらしくなければ |
| Conditional たら | しおらしかったら | しおらしくなかったら |
1.
meek; demure; modest
Describes a gentle, unassuming manner, typically used for women or behavior considered traditionally feminine.
- しおらしい → しおらしく (adverbial)
- しおらしい → しおらしくない (negative)
- しおらしい → しおらしかった (past)
- しおらしい → しおらしさ (noun form)
Etymology
From 萎れる (to wilt) + らしい. The image is of a wilting flower - delicate and gentle.
Usage
Traditionally used to describe women showing modesty, gentleness, and deference. In modern usage, can be applied to anyone exhibiting uncharacteristically subdued behavior.
- Can be positive (describing genuine gentleness)
- Can be slightly negative (implying the behavior is affected or unusual)
- Sometimes used ironically when someone is behaving unusually meek