知性

• 読み: ちせい
• ローマ字: chisei
• 漢字の分解: 知 (chi) — know, wisdom; 性 (sei) — nature, quality, character
• 発音: /t͡ɕi.seː/

意味

Intelligence; intellect. The capacity for rational thought, learning, and understanding.

A noun referring to the higher intellectual faculties — reasoning, critical thinking, and the ability to understand complex concepts. Distinguished from 知識 (chishiki, knowledge, which is accumulated facts) and 知能 (chinou, cognitive ability/IQ). 知性 implies sophistication and depth of thought: 知性的な人 (an intellectual person), 知性を感じる (to sense intelligence), 知性あふれる (overflowing with intellect). Often used as a compliment for someone who demonstrates refined thinking.

例文

1. 彼女は知性と品格を兼ね備えた人だ。
2. この本は読者の知性を刺激する内容だ。
3. 知性だけでなく、感性も大切にしたい。

使い方ガイド

場面: academic, personal development, media

トーン: respectful

起源と歴史

From Sino-Japanese: 知 (chi, know/wisdom) + 性 (sei, nature/quality/character). Literally 'the nature of knowing' — one's innate quality of intellectual capacity and understanding.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Educated