The Meaning of otonashii [大人しい] In Japanese

大人しい
おとなしい
Romaji: otonashii N4

What does 大人しい mean?

Translation and Meaning

docile, gentle, quiet, well-behaved

Definition

大人しい means being calm, quiet, and well-behaved, displaying restraint and a mild demeanor rather than energy or loudness; it often implies a mature, composed way of conducting oneself.

Type

i-adjective (形容詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Calm, gentle, and well-behaved in social interactions
  • Used for animals to indicate docility or tameness
  • Conveys a restrained, passive temperament rather than energy or assertiveness
  • Often implies maturity or propriety in conduct

Etymology

大人 (otona) + しい (otonashii) — from the noun 大人 meaning adult, plus the i-adjective suffix しい; the form signals a state of maturity and self-control, with the reading おとなしい (otonashii).

Composition

  • 大: big, great
  • 人: person; together 大人 means adult
  • しい: adjective ending that turns a base into an i-adjective
  • Combining 大人 and しい yields a descriptor of a calm, mature demeanor

Usage

Used to describe calm, compliant behavior in both people and animals; can modify nouns directly or be used predicatively; appropriate in casual speech and descriptive writing; typically conveys a mild, restrained temperament rather than liveliness.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think of 大人 (otona) as the adult; add しい to turn it into an adjective and remember that an adult should behave with restraint and calm, not with loud energy.

Variations

  • 静かな (shizuka na) quiet
  • 穏やかな (odayaka na) calm, gentle
  • 従順な (juujun na) obedient
  • 控えめな (hikaeme na) modest
  • 活発な (kappatsu na) energetic (antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 隣の子は大人しいので、先生も安心だ。
    Tonari no ko wa otonashii node, sensei mo anshin da.
    The child next door is quiet, so the teacher is relieved too.
    Lista:
    • 隣の子 (Tonari no ko) – the child next door
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 大人しい (otonashii) – quiet, well-behaved
    • ので (node) – because
    • 先生 (sensei) – teacher
    • も (mo) – also
    • 安心 (anshin) – relief
    • だ (da) – is
    The target word 「大人しい」 describes temperament; here it modifies 「子」 and, with 「ので」, shows cause.
大人しい