奥深い

• Reading: おくぶかい
• Romaji: okubukai
• Kanji breakdown: 奥 (oku) — inner depths, recess | 深 (fuka/shin) — deep
• Pronunciation: /o.kɯ.bɯ.ka.i/

Meaning

Profound; deep; meaningful; recondite. Describes something that rewards deeper engagement and resists full comprehension.

An i-adjective formed from 奥 (oku — inner depths, recesses) and 深い (fukai — deep). Used both literally (奥深い山 — deep in the mountains) and figuratively to describe art, philosophy, traditions, or people that contain layers of meaning. Strongly positive in tone; it implies richness and inexhaustibility. A hallmark compliment for Japanese traditional arts and complex ideas.

Examples

1. 茶道は一見シンプルに見えるが、その哲学は奥深い。 The tea ceremony looks simple at first glance, but its philosophy is profound.
2. この小説は読むたびに新たな発見があり、本当に奥深い作品だと思う。 Every time I read this novel I discover something new — it truly is a profound work.
3. 人間の心理は奥深く、表面的な言動だけで判断してはいけない。 The human psyche is profound and deep; you must not judge by surface behaviour alone.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, philosophy, literature, arts, psychology

Tone: appreciative

Origin & History

Compound of 奥 (oku — interior, recess, depths) and 深い (fukai — deep). Both components are Old Japanese; the compound appears in classical literature to describe physical depth and then extended metaphorically.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical to Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal