知能・智能|ちのうchinou[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounintelligence; intellect; brains
   イルカは非常ひじょうに知能ちのうの高たかい動物どうぶつです。↗

   The dolphin is a very intelligent animal.

• Synonym知性ちせいNeutralRational ability to understand and judge; often used to appraise a person's cultivation, as in 「知性的な女性」. 「知能」 leans toward measurable intelligence.
• SynonymインテリジェンスNeutralLoanword for intelligence as intellect or as information, as in 「インテリジェンス機関」; mostly used in the intelligence-gathering field.
• Synonym知力ちりょくNeutralIntellectual power or brainpower, as in 「知力と体力」; close to 「知能」 but tends to be set against physical strength.
• Synonym頭脳ずのうNeutralThe head or brain, also a mastermind or brains of a team, as in 「頭脳明晰」「チームの頭脳」; leans toward how clever someone is.
• Synonym知的能力ちてきのうりょくWrittenWritten phrase for the ability to think, understand, and judge; an explanatory way of putting it, close in meaning to 「知能」.
• Related知恵ちえNeutralWisdom or ideas for judging and handling things, as in 「知恵を絞る」; stresses flexible, practical use.
• Related英知えいちWrittenWritten word for deep wisdom or sagacity, as in 「人類の英知」; a level above 「知能」, with a laudatory tone.
• Related機知きちWrittenWritten word for quick, adaptable wit, as in 「機知に富む」; stresses cleverness and humor.
• Related才さいNeutralTalent or natural gift, as in 「才がある」; stresses aptitude in a particular field, not general intelligence.
• Related才気さいきWrittenWritten word for brilliance that shows on the outside — visible talent and quickness, as in 「才気あふれる」.
• Related才知さいちWrittenWritten word for talent plus wisdom; leans toward praising a person as clever and quick.
• Related理知りちWrittenWritten word for cool, reason-based thinking, contrasted with emotion, as in 「理知的な顔」.
• RelatedとんちNeutralQuick wit for improvising on the spot, as in 「一休さんの頓知」; stresses clever instant responses, while 「知能」 is general understanding and judgment.
• Related才力さいりょくWrittenWritten word for talent or ability; few examples in use — say 「才能」 instead.
• Related巧知こうちWrittenWritten word for skillful cleverness; almost never used today — say 「知恵」 instead.
• Related頓才とんさいWrittenWritten word for quick, adaptable talent; rarely used today — say 「機転」 instead.
• Antonym愚鈍ぐどんWrittenWritten word for stupidity and dullness; contrasts with high 「知能」, though 「知能」 itself is neutral about level.

Use 「知能」 for the measurable ability to understand and judge, as in 「知能指数」. For cultivated rationality say 「知性」, for flexible practical wisdom 「知恵」, and for quick wit 「機知」 or 「頓知」; 「愚鈍」 is the opposite. 「知力」 pairs with physical strength, 「頭脳」 covers brains and masterminds, and 「英知」 is lofty wisdom; the others are narrower, rarer, or written alternatives.

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

1. 物事ものごとを理解りかいしたり判断はんだんしたりする頭あたまの働はたらき。