そっけない・素っ気ない・素っ気無い・素気ない・素気無いsokkenai
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- i-adjectivecold; short; curt; blunt
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.
- 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


