先天的|せんてんてきsententeki[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. na-adjectiveinborn; innate; inherent; congenital; hereditary
    その習慣しゅうかんは後天的こうてんてきで、先天的せんてんてきなものではない。↗
    That habit is acquired, not innate.
  2. na-adjective, philosophya priori
Conjugation
Plain form先天的(せんてんてき)
Polite (desu)先天的です(せんてんてきです)
Negative (dewa nai)先天的ではない(せんてんてきではない)
polite (dewa arimasen)先天的ではありません(せんてんてきではありません)
Past (datta)先天的だった(せんてんてきだった)
Past negative (dewa nakatta)先天的ではなかった(せんてんてきではなかった)
Te form (de)先天的で(せんてんてきで)
Adverbial (ni)先天的に(せんてんてきに)
Conditional (nara)先天的なら(せんてんてきなら)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym先天性せんてんせいWrittenA noun used mostly in medicine for congenital conditions, as in 「先天性疾患」. Choose it for diseases; 「先天的」 is the general adjective.
  • Synonym生得的せいとくてきWrittenA written, philosophical adjective for what is innate from birth; rare. 「先天的」 is the everyday choice and also covers medical use.
  • Synonym本有的ほんゆうてきWrittenA written adjective meaning originally possessed; a Buddhist and philosophical term, rarely seen in modern Japanese.
  • Synonym持って生まれたもってうまれたNeutralA neutral phrase, common in speech, for abilities one is born with, as in 「持って生まれた才能」. It swaps naturally for 「先天的」 in casual talk.
  • Antonym後天的こうてんてきWrittenThe written antonym: acquired after birth rather than inborn, as in learned traits. It contrasts directly with 「先天的」.

For innate or inborn traits, use 「先天的」, as in 「先天的な才能」. For congenital medical conditions choose 「先天性」; in casual speech 「持って生まれた」 works well. 「生得的」 and 「本有的」 are rare written or philosophical terms, and 「後天的」 is the antonym for acquired traits.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. うまれつきであるさま。
  2. 経験けいけんに先立さきだつ根拠こんきょや条件じょうけん。アプリオリ。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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

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