丁寧 vs 親切
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 丁寧
Listen to 親切
| 丁寧 | 親切 |
|---|---|
tei-NEI adjective | しんせつ adjective |
| polite; courteous; careful and considerate in manner | kind; considerate; helpful |
How they differ
丁寧 can mean polite or careful even when no kindness is involved, such as in 丁寧な説明. 親切 adds a stronger sense of warmth and helpfulness, so it is used when the person is not only polite but also kind-hearted.
When to use each
When to use 丁寧: Use 丁寧 when the key idea is carefulness, politeness, or attention to detail rather than kindness.
When to use 親切: Use 親切 when you want to stress that someone is considerate and helpful toward others.
Side-by-side examples
- 店員が丁寧に対応してくれた。
(The clerk handled it politely and carefully.) - 店員が親切に対応してくれた。
(The clerk handled it kindly and helpfully.)
Register & nuance: 親切 is very common in everyday Japanese and has a warmer, more personal feel than 丁寧.