聡明・聰明|そうめいsoumei[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounwise; sagacious; intelligent; sensible
   偉人いじんが必かならずしも聡明そうめいであるとは限かぎらない。↗

   Great people are not always wise.

• Synonym英明えいめいWrittenWritten; describes wise, decisive leadership, said of rulers and leaders, as in 「英明な判断」. It centers on decision-making.
• Synonym賢いかしこいNeutralThe everyday, all-purpose word for smart; also suggests being shrewd and knowing how to get by. Use it in daily talk instead of 「聡明」.
• Synonym賢明けんめいWrittenWritten; sensible and wise in judgment, as in 「賢明な選択」. It stresses making the right decision rather than intelligence itself.
• SynonymインテリジェントNeutralLoanword for intelligent; mostly said of devices and systems, as in 「インテリジェントビル」, though it can also describe a person who understands and judges well.
• Synonym鋭敏えいびんWrittenWritten; keen and acute, mainly of the senses or a quick mind. It covers sharp eyesight or hearing, which 「聡明」 does not.
• Synonym知恵ちえNeutralA noun for wisdom and practical know-how, as in 「知恵を絞る」. It names the wisdom itself rather than describing a smart person.
• Synonym利口りこうNeutralCommon in speech; clever, and often well-behaved or obedient, said of children and pets. More casual than 「聡明」.
• Synonym英知えいちWrittenA written noun for lofty, profound wisdom, as in 「人類の英知」. Far grander than 「聡明」 and not for everyday cleverness.
• Synonym利根りこんWrittenWritten and rare; inborn intelligence, and by extension a gift for talk. It stresses natural talent rather than judgment.
• Synonym利発りはつWrittenWritten style; mostly describes bright, clever children, as in 「利発な子」. 「聡明」 suggests wiser, more discerning intelligence.
• SynonymさといWrittenWritten; refers to keen senses and sharpness, as in 「耳聡い」. It stresses quick reactions rather than the informed judgment of 「聡明」.
• Synonym明敏めいびんWrittenWritten; a sharp mind that quickly grasps the essence of things. It stresses speed of thinking more than 「聡明」.
• Synonym穎悟えいごWrittenWritten and rare; natural, inborn brilliance. Close to 「聡明」 in meaning but with a literary, old-fashioned flavor.
• Synonym怜悧れいりWrittenWritten; a sharp, quick mind. It stresses nimble thinking rather than the discernment of 「聡明」.
• Synonym明達めいたつWrittenWritten and rare; understanding matters well and judging soundly. Close to 「聡明」 but even more old-fashioned and elegant.
• Synonym明哲めいてつWrittenWritten; wise and sagacious, but mostly seen in the set phrase 「明哲保身」. It stresses worldly wisdom about protecting oneself.
• Synonym穎敏えいびんWrittenWritten and very rare; a quick, agile mind. 「鋭敏」 is the usual choice and can also describe keen senses.
• Synonym慧敏けいびんWrittenWritten and very rare; clever and quick of mind. It has an archaic, literary feel.
• Related悟性ごせいWrittenWritten; a philosophical term for the faculty of understanding. An academic concept, not a word for describing a person.
• Related才気煥発さいきかんぱつWrittenA four-character idiom for brilliance bursting forth. It suggests quick wit in speech and talent shown openly.
• Related犀利さいりWrittenWritten; sharp and incisive, mostly of criticism or writing, as in 「犀利な分析」. It describes a cutting style, not general intelligence.
• Related俊敏しゅんびんWrittenWritten; quick-witted and nimble in both mind and movement. It stresses physical agility, which 「聡明」 does not cover.
• Antonym愚かおろかWrittenWritten; foolish or stupid. The direct opposite of the wisdom 「聡明」 describes.
• Antonym鈍いにぶいNeutralNeutral; slow or dull. In 「頭の回転が遅い」 it is the opposite of the quick mind 「聡明」 implies.
• AntonymばかCasualColloquial; fool or stupid, used as an insult. The everyday opposite of 「聡明」.

For everyday 'smart', say 「賢い」 or 「頭がいい」. In written or formal prose, 「聡明」 describes intelligence with insight and good sense, as in 「聡明な女性」. For a bright child use 「利発」; for a wise, sensible decision 「賢明」; for foolish, 「愚か」.

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するのが速はやいこと。