素(そ)っ気(け)

そっけ

noun

warmth; friendliness; sociability

1. warmth; friendliness; sociability

a quality of warmth or friendliness in one's manner; almost always used in the negative form 素っ気ない to mean cold, curt, or unfriendly

彼(かれ)の返事(へんじ)は素(そ)っ気(け)なかった。

His reply was curt.

素(そ)っ気(け)ない態度(たいど)を取(と)らないでほしい。

I wish you wouldn't act so cold toward me.

店員(てんいん)に素(そ)っ気(け)なく断(ことわ)られて、がっかりした。

I was disappointed when the shop clerk curtly turned me down.

Almost exclusively used in the negative form 素(そ)っ気(け)ない (curt, cold, unfriendly) or as the adverb 素(そ)っ気(け)なく. The positive form 素(そ)っ気(け) alone is rarely used. Describes a manner of speaking or behaving that lacks warmth or interest.

Common collocations

素(そ)っ気(け)ない返事(へんじ): a curt reply
素(そ)っ気(け)ない態度(たいど): a cold attitude
素(そ)っ気(け)なく言(い)う: to say curtly
素(そ)っ気(け)なく断(ことわ)る: to refuse coldly

Similar words

冷(つめ)たい: cold — describes both personality and physical temperature; broader than 素(そ)っ気(け)ない
愛想(あいそ)がない: unfriendly — emphasizes lack of sociability or charm
無愛想(ぶあいそう): brusque, unsociable — stronger than 素(そ)っ気(け)ない, suggesting habitual unfriendliness

Related Words

Compare: 冷(つめ)たい (cold)

Compare: 無愛想(ぶあいそう) (brusque, unsociable)

general

Added 2026.4.22 22:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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