1.
challenging; ambitious
Describing an attitude, project, or goal that pushes boundaries and embraces difficulty.
挑戦的な目標を立てた。
I set a challenging goal.
この企画は非常に挑戦的な内容だ。
This project has very ambitious content.
若い研究者たちが挑戦的なテーマに取り組んでいる。
Young researchers are tackling challenging themes.
2.
provocative; defiant; confrontational
Describing behavior, a look, or an attitude that deliberately provokes or challenges someone.
挑戦的な態度を取る。
To take a defiant attitude.
彼は挑戦的な目つきでこちらを見た。
He looked at us with a provocative gaze.
記者会見で挑戦的な発言をして物議を醸した。
A provocative remark at the press conference stirred controversy.
A na-adjective formed from 挑戦 (challenge) plus 的. The two senses reflect the dual nature of 挑戦 itself — it can mean undertaking a difficult challenge (positive) or confronting someone aggressively (negative).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 挑戦的な目標: challenging goal
- 挑戦的な態度: defiant attitude
- 挑戦的な取り組み: ambitious initiative
- 挑戦的な姿勢: challenging stance
- 挑戦的な目つき: provocative look
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 意欲的: ambitious; motivated — positive connotation only, without the provocative nuance
- 攻撃的: aggressive; offensive — stronger hostility than the confrontational sense of 挑戦的
- 野心的: ambitious — focuses on aspiration and grand scale rather than difficulty