そっけない・素っ気ない・素っ気無い・素気ない・素気無いsokkenai

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. i-adjectivecold; short; curt; blunt
    彼女かのじょはいつも僕ぼくにそっけない。↗
    She's always short with me.
Conjugation
Plain formそっけない
Polite (desu)そっけないです
Negative (kunai)そっけなくない
polite (ku arimasen)そっけなくありません
Past (katta)そっけなかった
Past negative (kunakatta)そっけなくなかった
Te form (kute)そっけなくて
Adverbial (ku)そっけなく
Conditional (kereba)そっけなければ
kattaraそっけなかったら

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym冷たいつめたいNeutralA broad everyday adjective for a cold attitude — and also for things cold to the touch. Common in daily speech, it covers far more ground than 素っ気ない.
  • Synonym冷淡れいたんWrittenA noun for cold indifference, stressing a lack of warmth or enthusiasm. More at home in written prose than 素っ気ない.
  • Synonymにべも無いにべもないNeutralAn idiom for an utterly cold, unfriendly manner with no warmth at all; a flat refusal is a typical case, as in 「にべもなく断る」. Stronger than 素っ気ない.
  • SynonymつれないNeutralDescribes cold, heartless treatment of a person. It carries a slightly classical flavor and is often used of romantic indifference.
  • RelatedドライNeutralA loanword for a cool, matter-of-fact, unsentimental manner, as in 「ドライな性格」 — pragmatic detachment rather than curt rudeness.
  • Related無関心むかんしんNeutralA noun for apathy — simply not caring about or taking interest in something, without the curt, brusque manner 素っ気ない implies.
  • Related気のないきのないNeutralA phrase for a perfunctory, uninterested reply, as in 「気のない返事」. It stresses lack of interest rather than curt bluntness.
  • Related無頓着むとんちゃくNeutralA noun for being unconcerned or not fussy about something, as in 「服装に無頓着」 — indifference to a matter, not coldness toward a person.
  • Relatedお構いなしおかまいなしNeutralA noun for disregarding others or their circumstances, as in 「人の迷惑もお構いなし」 — paying no heed, rather than being curt.
  • Antonym親切しんせつNeutralThe direct opposite: kind, warm-hearted helpfulness toward someone in need, the reverse of 素っ気ない's coldness.
  • Antonym丁寧ていねいNeutralPolite, courteous and thorough in speech and manner — the opposite of the curt, cold manner of 素っ気ない.
  • Antonym暖かいあたたかいNeutralWarm-hearted kindness; in this human sense it is usually written 「温かい」. It stands opposite 素っ気ない's coldness.
  • Antonym優しいやさしいNeutralGentle, tender and considerate toward people — the opposite of cold indifference.

Use 「素っ気ない」 for a cold manner or a short, unenthusiastic reply, as in 「素っ気ない返事」. For an utterly cold, unfriendly manner use 「にべもない」; for a perfunctory reply 「気のない」; for general coldness 「冷たい」 or 「冷淡」; for cool pragmatism 「ドライ」. The opposite is 「親切」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 思おもいやりがない。
  2. 無愛想ぶあいそうである。
  3. うるおいがない。
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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