軽薄

• Reading: けいはく
• Romaji: keihaku
• Kanji breakdown: 軽 (kei) — light, trivial, frivolous; 薄 (haku) — thin, shallow, insubstantial
• Pronunciation: /keː.ha.kɯ/

Meaning

Frivolous; flippant; shallow; superficial. Describes a person or attitude that lacks seriousness, depth, or sincerity.

A na-adjective combining 軽 (light, trivial) and 薄 (thin, insubstantial). It conveys a lack of depth — someone who says agreeable things without conviction, acts in a showy but insincere way, or changes positions easily to please others. The term is used critically, implying an absence of substance behind the façade.

Examples

1. 軽薄な態度で面接に臨んだ彼は、当然落とされた。 He showed up to the interview with such a flippant attitude that he was naturally rejected.
2. 深みのない軽薄なコメントを繰り返すだけでは信頼を得られない。 You can't earn trust by just repeating shallow, frivolous comments.
3. 見た目は軽薄に見えても、彼の内面は意外と真剣だった。 He may look frivolous on the surface, but he's surprisingly serious on the inside.

Usage Guide

Context: character criticism, journalism, interpersonal evaluation

Tone: disapproving

Origin & History

Chinese compound adopted during the classical period. 軽 (kei) means light or trivial; 薄 (haku) means thin or shallow. Together they describe a person who is both insubstantial and superficial.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal