1.
pure; innocent; genuine; sincere
Having a pure and uncorrupted heart or character. Describes someone whose feelings and intentions are genuine and free from worldly calculation. Slightly literary in tone.
純真な心を持っている。
She has a pure heart.
純真な少年が都会の厳しさを知る物語だ。
It's a story about an innocent boy who learns the harshness of the city.
大人になると、子どもの頃のような純真さを失いがちだ。
As you grow up, you tend to lose the innocence you had as a child.
USAGE:
More literary and elevated than 無邪気. Often used in writing, narratives, and reflective contexts. Emphasizes moral purity and sincerity of character rather than childlike playfulness.
FORMS:
- 純真な + noun (pure, innocent)
- 純真さ (innocence; purity — noun form)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 純真な心 (a pure heart)
- 純真な子ども (an innocent child)
- 純真さを失う (to lose one's innocence)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 無邪気: innocent; naive — more colloquial, focuses on behavior rather than character
- 純粋: pure — broader meaning, can describe substances, motives, or character