1.
competence; capability; reliability; ability to provide
The quality of being capable and reliable, especially in earning a living and supporting a family. Traditionally used to evaluate men as providers, though the concept is broadening in modern usage.
甲斐性のある男。
A capable, dependable man.
甲斐性がないと言われた。
I was told I have no gumption.
祖母は「甲斐性のない男とだけは結婚するな」とよく言っていた。
My grandmother often said, "Whatever you do, don't marry a man with no gumption."
Also written 甲斐性 (shorter reading). Derives from 甲斐 (worth, effect) + 性 (nature, character).
USAGE:
甲斐性 is a somewhat old-fashioned word that evaluates a person's practical competence — their ability to earn money, manage a household, and be a dependable provider. It appears most often in the negative: 甲斐性なし or 甲斐性がない (lacking competence, unreliable). While traditionally applied to men as breadwinners, it can be used for anyone's ability to get things done and be self-sufficient.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 甲斐性がある: to be capable, dependable
- 甲斐性がない: to be incompetent, unreliable
- 甲斐性なし: a good-for-nothing
- 甲斐性のある人: a capable, reliable person
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 器量: ability, caliber — a person's capacity and character; in older usage, also means facial attractiveness
- 頼もしい: dependable, reassuring — an adjective describing someone you can count on
- 能力: ability, capability — a neutral, modern term for skills and abilities without the traditional provider connotation