How to say "meticulous" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 細心さいしんna-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers 'meticulous' as extreme carefulness and caution, often with a watchful, discreet quality; it suits contexts where one handles delicate matters while taking every precaution to avoid mistakes.
- 几帳面きちょうめんna-adjectiveDescribes a person whose character is methodical and precise: someone meticulous about order, rules, and doing things exactly right. This is the word for 'meticulous' as a personality trait.
- 周到しゅうとうna-adjective, nounCovers 'meticulous' as thoroughness: care taken in planning and preparation so that nothing is overlooked. Use it for meticulous arrangements, plans, or precautions that leave no loose ends.
- 丹念たんねんna-adjective, nounCovers 'meticulous' as painstaking care: patient, attentive effort applied to work or craft over time. It suits meticulous handwork where every detail receives patient attention.
- 精細せいさいna-adjective, nounLeans toward 'fine; minute; detailed': it describes finely detailed work, descriptions, or data rather than a person's careful character, so it is seldom the word for a meticulous personality.
Choose 几帳面 for a meticulous personality, 細心 for careful caution, 周到 for thorough planning and preparation, 丹念 for painstaking care in handwork, and 精細 for finely detailed work or descriptions.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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