尊い・貴い|とうといtoutoi[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
たっといtattoi[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
尊い尊い（とうとい） is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners when writing this word.
貴い貴い（とうとい） is an alternative written form, but it is less common than 尊い（とうとい）; learners should generally recognize it rather than choose it first.
Definitions
- i-adjectiveprecious; valuable; priceless愛より尊い物はない。↗Nothing is as precious as love.
- i-adjectivenoble; exalted; sacred
Conjugation
| Plain form | 尊い（とうとい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 尊いです（とうといです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 尊くない（とうとくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 尊くありません（とうとくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 尊かった（とうとかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 尊くなかった（とうとくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 尊くて（とうとくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 尊く（とうとく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 尊ければ（とうとければ） |
| kattara | 尊かったら（とうとかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym貴重きちょうNeutralNa-adjective meaning precious, valuable (「貴重な時間」「貴重品」); stresses rarity — things hard to come by.
- Synonym高貴こうきNeutralNa-adjective meaning noble (「高貴な家柄」); stresses high status and rank.
- Synonym神聖しんせいNeutralNa-adjective meaning sacred (「神聖な場所」); stresses being inviolable.
- Synonym崇高すうこうNeutralNa-adjective meaning sublime (「崇高な使命」); stresses lofty spiritual heights.
- Synonym価値あるかちあるNeutralSet phrase meaning valuable (「価値ある経験」); it stresses objective worth, while 「尊い」 carries feelings of respect and treasuring.
- Synonym価値高いかちたかいNeutralSet phrase meaning highly valuable; it sounds stiff, and one normally says 「価値が高い」.
- Related高尚こうしょうNeutralNa-adjective meaning refined (「高尚な趣味」); stresses refined, elegant taste.
- RelatedノーブルNeutralLoanword meaning noble (「ノーブルな顔立ち」); mostly for fashion and refined bearing.
- Related高潔こうけつNeutralNa-adjective meaning noble and upright (「高潔な人格」); stresses pure, unsullied conduct.
- Related立派りっぱNeutralNa-adjective meaning splendid, admirable (「立派な人」); the most common everyday choice.
- Related恐れ多いおそれおおいNeutralAdjective meaning awed, humbled (「恐れ多いお言葉」); stresses awe toward an exalted person.
- RelatedやんごとないWrittenWritten/formal adjective meaning noble, exalted (「やんごとなき方」); archaic, mostly for royalty and the high-born.
- Related気高いけだかいNeutralAdjective meaning noble, lofty (「気高い精神」); stresses loftiness of character.
- Related高邁こうまいWrittenWritten/formal na-adjective meaning lofty, eminent (「高邁な理想」); leans toward written prose.
- Related高遠こうえんWrittenWritten/formal na-adjective meaning lofty (「高遠な理想」); written register and rare.
- Related貴族的きぞくてきNeutralNa-adjective meaning aristocratic (「貴族的な趣味」); stresses elegance and luxury.
- Related尊とうとWrittenWritten/formal noun meaning value, preciousness; archaic. Also the stem of 「尊い」 in the exclamation 「あな尊と」; rarely stands alone today.
- Antonym卑しいいやしいNeutralAntonym: means lowly, base (「卑しい身分」); the opposite of the noble 「尊い」.
Use 「尊い」 for something to be treasured and respected, or for noble status (「尊い命」「尊い犠牲」); it is also internet slang. For rare, hard-to-get things say 「貴重」; for lofty character say 「気高い」 or 「崇高」; for high status say 「高貴」. The opposite is 「卑しい」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
