遠慮深い
えんりょぶかい
i-adjective
reserved; modest; diffident
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 遠慮深い | 遠慮深くない |
| Past | 遠慮深かった | 遠慮深くなかった |
| て form | 遠慮深くて | 遠慮深くなくて |
| Adverbial | 遠慮深く | — |
| Conditional ば | 遠慮深ければ | 遠慮深くなければ |
| Conditional たら | 遠慮深かったら | 遠慮深くなかったら |
1.
reserved; modest; diffident; restrained
Describes a person who habitually holds back, refrains from imposing on others, and acts with excessive modesty. Generally positive in Japanese culture, though can imply being overly timid.
彼女は遠慮深い人だ。
She is a reserved person.
遠慮深い性格のせいで、なかなか自分の意見が言えない。
Because of my reserved nature, I can't easily express my opinions.
そんなに遠慮深くしなくていいよ、もっと気楽にしてね。
You don't need to be so reserved — relax and be comfortable.
An い-adjective formed from 遠慮 (restraint, reserve) and 深い (deep), meaning deeply reserved or very modest. Describes someone who consistently holds back out of consideration for others.
USAGE:
In Japanese culture, being 遠慮深い is often seen positively as showing consideration and humility. However, it can also be a gentle criticism when someone is so reserved that they fail to communicate their needs.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 遠慮深い人 — a reserved person
- 遠慮深い性格 — a modest personality
- 遠慮深い態度 — a restrained attitude
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 控えめ — modest, restrained (more common, less literary)
- 奥ゆかしい — refined, modest (positive, appreciative tone)
- 内気 — shy, introverted (more about personality than politeness)