慇懃(いんぎん)

いんぎん
na-adjective
polite, courteous, civil
formalwrittenspokendescriptivesociety
1. polite, courteous, civil
Showing careful politeness and respectful manners. Can be used positively for genuine courtesy, but often appears in the phrase 慇懃(いんぎん)無礼(ぶれい) describing overly polite behavior that is actually rude.
慇懃(いんぎん)な態度(たいど)で接(せっ)する。
To treat someone with polite manners.
慇懃(いんぎん)無礼(ぶれい)な対応(たいおう)だった。
The response was outwardly polite but actually rude.
彼(かれ)は慇懃(いんぎん)に挨拶(あいさつ)した。
He greeted us courteously.
慇懃(いんぎん)すぎて逆(ぎゃく)に不快(ふかい)だ。
It's so excessively polite that it's actually unpleasant.

慇懃(いんぎん) describes careful politeness and respectful manners. However, it is most frequently encountered in the four-character compound 慇懃(いんぎん)無礼(ぶれい).

Key expression

  • 慇懃(いんぎん)無礼(ぶれい) (outwardly polite but actually rude/condescending)

Usage

  • 慇懃(いんぎん)な + noun (polite, courteous)
  • 慇懃(いんぎん)に + verb (courteously, politely)

Nuance

  • When used alone, can be positive (genuinely courteous)
  • In 慇懃(いんぎん)無礼(ぶれい), describes a particular kind of rudeness disguised as excessive politeness

Related words

general
Added 2026.2.2 0:19 · Revised 2026.10.3 3:37
09000/09465_ingin