機微(きび)

きび
noun
subtlety, fine nuance, delicacy
formalwrittenliteraryabstractemotion
1. subtlety, fine nuance, delicacy
The subtle, delicate aspects of a situation, emotion, or subject that are not immediately obvious and require sensitivity to perceive. Often used for interpersonal or emotional nuances.
人(ひと)の心(こころ)の機微(きび)に触(ふ)れる。
To touch on the subtleties of the human heart.
彼女(かのじょ)は人間(にんげん)関係(かんけい)の機微(きび)をよく理解(りかい)している。
She understands the subtleties of human relationships well.
この小説(しょうせつ)は親子(おやこ)の感情(かんじょう)の機微(きび)を繊細(せんさい)に描(えが)いていて、多(おお)くの読者(どくしゃ)の共感(きょうかん)を呼(よ)んだ。
This novel delicately portrays the emotional subtleties between parent and child, and resonated with many readers.

Usage

A literary and formal word. Most commonly appears in the pattern ～の機微(きび), referring to the subtle, hard-to-articulate aspects of emotions, relationships, or situations. Frequently used in literary criticism, psychology, and discussions of interpersonal dynamics.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 雑穀(ざっこく) (millet)
general
Added 2026.2.24 15:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13233_kibi