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
彼の返事は素っ気なかった。
His reply was curt.
素っ気ない態度を取らないでほしい。
I wish you wouldn't act so cold toward me.
店員に素っ気なく断られて、がっかりした。
I was disappointed when the shop clerk curtly turned me down.
Almost exclusively used in the negative form 素っ気ない (curt, cold, unfriendly) or as the adverb 素っ気なく. The positive form 素っ気 alone is rarely used. Describes a manner of speaking or behaving that lacks warmth or interest.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 素っ気ない返事: a curt reply
- 素っ気ない態度: a cold attitude
- 素っ気なく言う: to say curtly
- 素っ気なく断る: to refuse coldly
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 冷たい: cold — describes both personality and physical temperature; broader than 素っ気ない
- 愛想がない: unfriendly — emphasizes lack of sociability or charm
- 無愛想: brusque, unsociable — stronger than 素っ気ない, suggesting habitual unfriendliness