それとなく

それとなく
adverb
indirectly; casually; subtly
descriptivecommunication
1. indirectly; casually; subtly
describes doing something in a way that is not direct or obvious, often to avoid being noticed or to be tactful
それとなく聞(き)いてみた。
I casually asked about it.
彼(かれ)にそれとなく伝(つた)えた。
I subtly conveyed it to him.
それとなく様子(ようす)を探(さぐ)ってみた。
I tried to discreetly find out what was going on.
母(はは)はそれとなく結婚(けっこん)の話(はなし)を持(も)ち出(だ)した。
My mother casually brought up the topic of marriage.

Usage

Used when doing something indirectly or subtly to avoid being too obvious or direct. Common in situations requiring tact or discretion.

Common collocations

Related words

Related Words

Related: 遠回(とおまわ)しに (in a roundabout way)
Related: 暗(あん)に (implicitly)
Related: さりげなく (nonchalantly)
general
Added 2026.1.27 19:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
08500/08510_soretonaku