尊(とうと)い

とうとい
i-adjective
precious, noble, sacred
descriptive
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present尊(とうと)い尊(とうと)くない
Past尊(とうと)かった尊(とうと)くなかった
て form尊(とうと)くて尊(とうと)くなくて
Adverbial尊(とうと)く—
Conditional ば尊(とうと)ければ尊(とうと)くなければ
Conditional たら尊(とうと)かったら尊(とうと)くなかったら
1. precious, valuable, important
Of great value and deserving of respect and protection. Used for abstract things like life, time, experiences, and sacrifices.
命(いのち)は尊(とうと)い。
Life is precious.
尊(とうと)い経験(けいけん)をさせてもらった。
I was given a precious experience.
多(おお)くの尊(とうと)い犠牲(ぎせい)の上(うえ)に今(いま)の平和(へいわ)がある。
Today's peace stands upon many precious sacrifices.
2. noble, sacred, holy, exalted
Having a dignified, sacred, or spiritually elevated quality. Used for deities, religious figures, and things of spiritual significance.
尊(とうと)い仏像(ぶつぞう)に手(て)を合(あ)わせる。
To put one's hands together before a sacred Buddhist statue.
この山(やま)は古(ふる)くから尊(とうと)い場所(ばしょ)とされてきた。
This mountain has been considered a sacred place since ancient times.
修行(しゅぎょう)を積(つ)んだ僧侶(そうりょ)の姿(すがた)は尊(とうと)く見(み)えた。
The figure of the monk who had undergone training appeared noble.

Pronunciation

This word has two common readings: 尊(とうと)い and 尊(たっと)い. Both are correct and interchangeable, though 尊(とうと)い is more common in everyday speech. The kanji 貴(とうと)い can also be read the same way and has a similar meaning, though 貴(とうと)い leans more toward "valuable, high-ranking" while 尊(とうと)い leans toward "worthy of respect, sacred."

Usage

In internet and otaku culture, 尊(とうと)い (often written とうとい or 尊(とうと)い) is used as slang to express overwhelming admiration or emotional response to something cute, beautiful, or heartwarming — similar to English "precious" or "I can't even." This usage is very informal.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 尊(たっと)ぶ (to value, to respect, to esteem)
general
Added 2026.2.21 14:56 · Revised 2026.10.7 4:23
12000/12399_toutoi