陰性(いんせい)

いんせい
noun, na-adjective
negative (medical test result)
health
1. negative (medical test result)
A test result indicating that the tested substance or condition was not detected.
検査(けんさ)結果(けっか)は陰性(いんせい)だった。
The test result was negative.
PCR検査(けんさ)で陰性(いんせい)と判定(はんてい)された。
I was determined negative by a PCR test.
陰性(いんせい)証明書(しょうめいしょ)が必要(ひつよう)です。
A negative test certificate is required.
2. passive; negative in temperament; introverted
A personality trait characterized by passivity, introversion, or a gloomy disposition.
彼(かれ)はどちらかというと陰性(いんせい)な性格(せいかく)だ。
He has a rather introverted personality.
陰性(いんせい)な感情(かんじょう)に支配(しはい)されていた。
I was dominated by negative emotions.
あの人(ひと)は陰性(いんせい)な雰囲気(ふんいき)がある。
That person has a gloomy atmosphere about them.

Has two main uses: a medical/scientific term for a negative result, and a personality descriptor meaning passive or introverted. The medical sense became extremely common during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Common collocations

  • 陰性(いんせい)反応(はんのう): negative reaction
  • 陰性(いんせい)証明(しょうめい): negative certification
  • 偽(ぎ)陰性(いんせい): false negative
  • 陰性(いんせい)な性格(せいかく): introverted/negative personality

Similar words

  • 陽性(ようせい): positive (test result) — the direct opposite
  • 内向的(ないこうてき): introverted — more neutral and modern for describing personality

Usage

In medical contexts, 陰性(いんせい) (negative) is typically good news, while 陽性(ようせい) (positive) means the disease or condition was detected. This can be confusing for learners since "positive" and "negative" have reversed connotations from everyday English.

Related Words

Compare: 内向的(ないこうてき) (introverted)
Compare: 良性(りょうせい) (benign)
Related: 検査(けんさ)キット (test kit)
general
Added 2026.4.8 2:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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