How to say "generous" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 寛大かんだいna-adjective, nounCovers 'generous' as forgiving and lenient — a broad-minded willingness to overlook faults or treat a mistake lightly. Typical of how a boss, teacher, or judge decides to deal with someone's error.
- 太っ腹ふとっぱらna-adjective, no-adjectiveDescribes 'generous' as big-hearted and magnanimous, often with money: the person who treats others freely and never fusses over small costs. It praises largeness of spirit rather than mere kindness.
- 親切しんせつna-adjective, nounThis is really the word for 'kind': choose it when 'generous' means considerate and helpful — someone who kindly gives time or assistance — rather than free-spending or lenient.
- 闊達かったつna-adjectiveReally describes a cheerful, open, uninhibited personality — the openhearted person who is sociable and free-and-easy. 'Generous' is only a marginal shade, so it is seldom the word you want for 'generous'.
- 大まかおおまかna-adjectiveSeldom the word you want for 'generous': in Japanese it is best known for meaning 'rough' or 'general', describing something done in broad strokes rather than in detail, and any openhanded sense is marginal.
Use 寛大 for forgiving, lenient generosity toward others' faults, 「太っ腹」 for big-hearted openhandedness, 親切 for kindly helpfulness, while 闊達 and 「大まか」 only touch 'generous' at the edges.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 寛大かんだいtolerant
- 太っ腹ふとっぱらgenerous
- 親切しんせつkind
- 闊達かったつbroad-minded
- 惜しみないおしみないgenerous
- 気が大きいきがおおきいgenerous
- 気前のいいきまえのいいgenerous
- 寛闊かんかつgenerous
- 宏量こうりょうgenerous
- 心の広いこころのひろいgenerous
- 心が広いこころがひろいgenerous
- 気の大きいきのおおきいgenerous
- 人がいいひとがいいgenerous
- 気前がいいきまえがいいgenerous
- 腹が太いはらがふといgenerous
- バブリーextravagant (spending)
- 鷹揚おうようlarge-hearted
- 過分かぶんexcessive
- せっかくkind
- 大まかおおまかgenerous
- 多分たぶんa lot of
- おおらかbig-hearted
- 甘いあまいnaive
See also
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