洞察|どうさつdousatsu[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbdiscernment; insight
    この詩しは読者どくしゃの大おおいなる洞察どうさつを必要ひつようとしている。↗
    This poem calls for great insight from the reader.
Conjugation
Dictionary form洞察する(どうさつする)
Polite (masu)洞察します(どうさつします)
Negative (nai)洞察しない(どうさつしない)
polite (masen)洞察しません(どうさつしません)
classical zu / nu洞察せず・洞察せぬ(どうさつせず・どうさつせぬ)
Past (ta)洞察した(どうさつした)
polite (mashita)洞察しました(どうさつしました)
Past negative (nakatta)洞察しなかった(どうさつしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)洞察しませんでした(どうさつしませんでした)
Te form洞察して(どうさつして)
Potential洞察できる(どうさつできる)
Passive洞察される(どうさつされる)
Causative洞察させる(どうさつさせる)
Causative passive洞察させられる(どうさつさせられる)
Conditional (ba)洞察すれば(どうさつすれば)
tara洞察したら(どうさつしたら)
Volitional洞察しよう(どうさつしよう)
polite (mashou)洞察しましょう(どうさつしましょう)
Imperative洞察しろ(どうさつしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym見識けんしきNeutralRefers to independent, well-grounded judgment, and also to self-respect; it centers on one's views, while 「洞察」 centers on seeing through to the essence.
  • Synonym眼力がんりきNeutralThe ability to tell genuine from fake, good from bad; 「洞察」 goes further, seeing through to the deeper essence of things, not just telling them apart.
  • Synonym見抜くみぬくNeutralEveryday verb for seeing through hidden essence, truth or feelings; 「洞察する」 is more written and weightier in tone.
  • Synonym識見しきけんWrittenWritten word for knowledge and judgment, synonymous with 「見識」; unlike 「洞察」, it does not center on seeing through to the essence.
  • Synonym眼識がんしきWrittenA written word for the ability to judge quality and merit; unlike 「洞察」, it does not center on seeing through to the essence.
  • Synonym明察めいさつFormalFormal: seeing a situation or the truth clearly; also an honorific for the other person's discernment, as in 「ご明察」.
  • Synonym洞察力どうさつりょくNeutralNames the ability itself and is a noun only; 「洞察」 can also work as a suru verb for the act of seeing through something.
  • Synonym達見たっけんWrittenRare written word for outstanding insight built on keen observation; 「洞察」 is the act of seeing through, 「達見」 the resulting judgment.
  • Synonym達識たっしきWrittenRare written word for superior judgment that grasps essentials and foresees the future; stresses insight and foresight, while 「洞察」 stresses the act of seeing through.
  • Related見通しみとおしNeutralCovers outlooks, forecasts and unobstructed views; centers on prospects and prediction, not on seeing through to the essence as 「洞察」 does.
  • Related見通すみとおすNeutralVerb for taking in a view at a glance, reading minds or foreseeing the future; plainer and more everyday than 「洞察する」.
  • Related見透かすみすかすNeutralVerb for seeing through someone's mind, lies or schemes; its tone can be good or bad depending on context, while 「洞察」 centers on keenly observing the essence.
  • Related読みよみNeutralMeans reading, and by extension reading a situation, as in 「読みが鋭い」; unlike 「洞察」, it does not center on seeing through to the essence.
  • Related看破かんぱWrittenWritten/formal: seeing through the truth or the inside story; 「洞察」 centers on grasping the essence through keen observation.
  • Related洞見どうけんWrittenNearly the same meaning — seeing through things or the insight gained from it — but rare and written; in daily use say 「洞察」.
  • Related活眼かつがんWrittenRare written word for the sharp eye that pierces to the essence; stresses the eye itself. In daily speech say 「洞察力」 or 「眼力」.
  • Related透察とうさつWrittenClose in meaning — seeing through the essence or hidden facts — but rare and written; 「洞察」 is the usual everyday choice.

Use 「洞察」 for seeing through to the essence of things with keen observation, as in 「鋭い洞察」 or 「洞察力」. For views and judgment say 「見識」, for a discerning eye 「眼力」, for seeing through lies or minds 「見抜く」 or 「看破」, and for outlooks or forecasts 「見通し」. The verbs 「見通す」「見透かす」「見抜く」 are everyday; 「洞察する」 is more written. 「明察」 is formal and honorific; 「洞察力」 is the noun for the ability. Words like 「達見」「達識」「洞見」「活眼」「透察」「眼識」「識見」 are rare written terms.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 物事ものごとを優すぐれた観察力かんさつりょくで見抜みぬくこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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