希薄(きはく)

きはく
na-adjective
thin, diluted; weak, tenuous
formaldescriptive
1. thin, diluted, sparse
Describes a liquid, gas, or substance that is low in concentration or density. The physical sense of being diluted or thinned out.
高地(こうち)は空気(くうき)が希薄(きはく)だ。
The air is thin at high altitude.
酸素(さんそ)が希薄(きはく)な環境(かんきょう)では息(いき)が苦(くる)しくなる。
In an oxygen-poor environment, it becomes hard to breathe.
標高(ひょうこう)が上(あ)がるにつれて大気(たいき)はますます希薄(きはく)になる。
The atmosphere becomes increasingly thin as altitude rises.
2. weak, tenuous, lacking
Describes abstract things like awareness, interest, or connections that are weak, faint, or lacking in strength. The figurative sense of something being insubstantial.
危機(きき)意識(いしき)が希薄(きはく)だ。
There is a weak sense of crisis.
都会(とかい)では近所(きんじょ)付(づ)き合(あ)いが希薄(きはく)になりがちだ。
In cities, neighborly relations tend to become tenuous.
若者(わかもの)の間(あいだ)で政治(せいじ)への関心(かんしん)が希薄(きはく)になっていることが問題視(もんだいし)されている。
It is seen as a problem that interest in politics has been waning among young people.

Usage

Also written as 稀薄(きはく) with the character 稀(き). Used as a na-adjective: 希薄(きはく)な～, 希薄(きはく)になる. The figurative sense (sense 2) is more common in everyday usage. Typical abstract nouns it modifies include 意識(いしき) (awareness), 関心(かんしん) (interest), 関係(かんけい) (relationship), and 根拠(こんきょ) (basis).

Common collocations

Related Words

Antonym: 濃厚(のうこう) (dense, rich, strong)
general
Added 2026.2.21 19:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
12000/12473_kihaku