1.
challenging; provocative; defiant
Showing a bold, confrontational, or provocative attitude. Can describe a person's demeanor, gaze, or words that challenge the status quo or provoke a reaction.
2.
ambitious; pushing boundaries
Attempting something difficult or innovative that tests limits. Used positively to describe ambitious projects, experimental works, or bold approaches.
A na-adjective formed from 挑戦 (challenge) + 的. Has two distinct uses: one negative-leaning (confrontational, provocative attitude) and one positive (ambitious, pushing boundaries).
The confrontational sense is common when describing someone's 態度 (attitude), 目つき (gaze), or 発言 (remarks). The ambitious sense appears frequently in arts, business, and sports contexts.
Common collocations
- 挑戦的な態度: defiant attitude
- 挑戦的な姿勢: challenging stance; ambitious posture
- 挑戦的な試み: ambitious attempt
- 挑戦的な作品: boundary-pushing work
- 挑戦的な質問: provocative question