How to say "intentional" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 意図的いとてきna-adjectiveThe direct equivalent of 'intentional' in its plain sense: something done on purpose rather than by accident. It simply states that the act was deliberate, without extra nuance of awareness or contrivance.
- 作為的さくいてきna-adjectiveLeans toward its 'contrived, artificial' side: it describes something as deliberately made or engineered rather than natural or spontaneous. For the plain 'on purpose' sense of 'intentional', 意図的 is usually the word you want.
- 意識的いしきてきna-adjectiveCovers 'intentional' when the point is conscious awareness: a deliberate, knowing choice or effort rather than something done unconsciously or out of habit. The emphasis falls on awareness, not on purpose or aim.
Use 意図的 for the plain sense of done on purpose, 作為的 when something is deliberately contrived or engineered rather than natural, and 意識的 when the point is that the action was conscious and aware.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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