勝手な
When you call someone 勝手 (katte), you mean they are selfish or do things in a way that suits only themselves. It implies a lack of consideration for others.
For example, if a friend always chooses the restaurant without asking anyone else, you might think they are 勝手.
It can also describe actions that are arbitrary or done without proper permission or thought.
It's generally used with a slightly negative nuance, highlighting someone's tendency to act on their own whims.
When using 勝手 (katte) to describe someone's behavior or decisions, it often carries a nuance of selfishness or acting arbitrarily without considering others. It implies a disregard for rules, common sense, or the feelings of those around them. This word is frequently used to express disapproval of such actions. For example, if someone takes something without asking, you might say they are being 勝手な. It's a useful term for describing situations where someone is doing as they please, often to the inconvenience or detriment of others. Using 勝手な can also imply that someone is making decisions based solely on their own convenience or desires.
When using 勝手 (katte) to describe a person's behavior, it means they are doing things in a self-serving or arbitrary way, without considering others. This can imply selfishness or a lack of consideration. For example, if someone makes plans without asking for your input, you could describe their actions as 勝手な (katte na). It's important to note that while it can mean selfish, it often carries the nuance of acting on one's own discretion without consulting others, which can sometimes be seen as negative.
Alright, let's talk about the Japanese adjective 勝手な (katte na). You've got the basic meaning down: selfish, arbitrary. But how do you actually use it in a sentence? That's what we'll cover here. Think of it as a 'na-adjective', which means it behaves a bit differently than 'i-adjectives'.
§ Understanding 'katte na' as a na-adjective
Like all na-adjectives, 勝手な (katte na) needs to connect with a noun using 'na'.
- DEFINITION
- When modifying a noun directly, you always use な (na) after 勝手 (katte).
勝手な人ですね。(Katte na hito desu ne.)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- He's such a selfish person, isn't he?
Here, 勝手な (katte na) describes 'hito' (person). Without the 'na', it sounds incomplete or grammatically incorrect.
§ Using 'katte' with です (desu) or だ (da)
When it comes at the end of a sentence to describe a situation or a person, it will usually be followed by です (desu) in polite speech, or だ (da) in casual speech.
- DEFINITION
- To end a sentence politely: 勝手です (katte desu). To end a sentence casually: 勝手だ (katte da).
彼の行動は勝手だ。(Kare no kōdō wa katte da.)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- His actions are arbitrary/selfish.
そんなことをするのは勝手です。(Sonna koto o suru no wa katte desu.)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- Doing such a thing is selfish.
§ Making it an adverb: 勝手に (katte ni)
You can also turn 勝手な (katte na) into an adverb by changing 'na' to 'ni'. This means it modifies a verb, describing how an action is done.
- DEFINITION
- Use 勝手に (katte ni) to describe an action done selfishly, arbitrarily, or without permission.
彼は勝手に帰った。(Kare wa katte ni kaetta.)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- He went home without permission / on his own accord.
物を勝手に使わないでください。(Mono o katte ni tsukawanaide kudasai.)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- Please don't use my things without permission.
§ Common phrases with 'katte'
Here are a few common expressions you'll hear:
勝手なことを言う (katte na koto o iu): To say selfish things, to say whatever one pleases.
勝手なことを言うな！(Katte na koto o iu na!)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- Don't say such selfish things! / Don't say whatever you want!
勝手にする (katte ni suru): To do as one pleases, to do whatever one wants.
勝手にしてください。(Katte ni shite kudasai.)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- Please do as you please. (Can be sarcastic, implying 'I don't care anymore')
§ Nuances and contexts
While 'selfish' and 'arbitrary' are good starting points, 勝手な (katte na) often carries a sense of doing things without considering others, or without proper authorization. It's rarely a compliment.
- DEFINITION
- It can sometimes mean 'convenient for oneself' or 'on one's own terms,' especially when paired with phrases like 'my 勝手' (私の勝手 - watashi no katte).
それは私の勝手です。(Sore wa watashi no katte desu.)
- TRANSLATION HINT
- That's my business / My decision. (Implies 'I'll do what I want.')
Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll get a better feel for when and how to use 勝手な (katte na) naturally. It's a very common and useful word, so mastering its usage will definitely boost your Japanese communication skills.
Aussprachehilfe
- confusing with 'かって' (katte - permission/situation)
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Common kanji, but the nuance can be tricky.
Common kanji.
Commonly used in conversation.
Context is key to understanding the exact nuance.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Beispiele nach Niveau
彼はいつも勝手な行動ばかりする。
He always acts selfishly.
勝手なことばかり言わないでください。
Please don't just say whatever you want.
彼女は勝手に人の物を使う。
She uses other people's things without permission.
そんな勝手な意見は聞きたくない。
I don't want to hear such arbitrary opinions.
自分の勝手な都合で決めてはいけない。
You shouldn't decide based on your own selfish convenience.
勝手な判断で進めてしまった。
I proceeded with my own arbitrary judgment.
彼はいつも勝手な時間に帰ってくる。
He always comes home at his own convenience.
勝手なことをすると怒られるよ。
If you act selfishly, you'll get angry.
勝手な行動は控えてください。
Please refrain from arbitrary actions.
彼はいつも勝手なことを言います。
He always says selfish things.
そんな勝手な意見は通りませんよ。
Such arbitrary opinions won't be accepted.
勝手な判断で物事を進めないでください。
Please don't proceed with things based on your own arbitrary judgment.
彼女の勝手な振る舞いにみんな困っています。
Everyone is troubled by her selfish behavior.
勝手なことをすると、後で困るのは自分です。
If you act selfishly, you'll be the one in trouble later.
彼は勝手な理由で会議を欠席した。
He was absent from the meeting for arbitrary reasons.
店員の勝手な対応に腹が立った。
I was angry about the store clerk's arbitrary treatment.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
そんな勝手なこと言わないでください。
Please don't say such selfish things.
彼はいつも勝手な行動をする。
He always acts selfishly.
あなたの勝手な判断はやめてください。
Please stop your arbitrary judgments.
勝手なことを言って、みんなを困らせた。
He said selfish things and caused trouble for everyone.
自分の勝手な都合で決めてはいけない。
You shouldn't decide based on your own selfish convenience.
勝手な真似はやめてほしい。
I want you to stop acting arbitrarily.
彼が勝手なことをしたのは、みんなが困る原因になった。
His arbitrary actions caused problems for everyone.
そんな勝手な意見は聞き入れられない。
Such an arbitrary opinion cannot be accepted.
彼は勝手なことをして、周囲に迷惑をかけた。
He acted selfishly and caused trouble for those around him.
勝手な解釈をするのは危険です。
It's dangerous to make arbitrary interpretations.
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine a **cat** (katte) who does whatever it wants, being very **selfish** and **arbitrary**.
Visuelle Assoziation
Picture a cat knocking over a tower of blocks, acting completely on its own whims, not caring about the mess.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to describe a time someone acted selfishly or arbitrarily using 勝手な. For example: 「彼はいつも勝手な行動ばかりする。」 (He always acts arbitrarily/selfishly.) or 「勝手なことを言ってすみません。」 (Sorry for saying selfish/arbitrary things.)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragen勝手な (katte na) often implies a self-serving or arbitrary action without considering others. It's like someone doing things 'their own way' without regard for rules or feelings. Other words like 自己中心的 (jikochuushinteki) are more broadly 'self-centered,' and わがまま (wagamama) usually refers to a childish or capricious selfishness. 勝手な often carries a slightly more negative connotation of being inconsiderate.
Yes, it can. While it often describes people's behavior, you might hear it in contexts like, 「勝手な真似はやめてください」 (Katte na mane wa yamete kudasai - Please stop acting on your own arbitrary whims). Here, it describes actions or behaviors that are inconsiderate or done without permission.
It's generally a moderately strong word, indicating disapproval. It's not as strong as an insult, but it clearly communicates that someone's actions are problematic or inappropriate due to their lack of consideration for others.
The kanji are 勝 (shou/katsu) meaning 'victory' or 'to win,' and 手 (shu/te) meaning 'hand.' While the individual kanji have these meanings, 勝手な as a whole word has evolved to mean 'selfish,' 'arbitrary,' or 'one's own convenience.' The combination doesn't directly translate to 'selfish hand' in a literal sense for this context.
It functions as a な-adjective. So you'd use it like: 勝手な人 (katte na hito - a selfish person), 勝手な行動 (katte na koudou - arbitrary behavior). You can also use it with だ/です: 彼は勝手だ (Kare wa katte da - He is selfish).
Yes, a very common one is 「勝手なことをするな」 (Katte na koto o suru na - Don't do as you please / Don't act on your own whims). Another is 「勝手なことを言うな」 (Katte na koto o iu na - Don't say selfish things / Don't talk nonsense).
While its primary meaning is negative, in some very specific contexts, it can be used with a slightly more neutral tone, almost like 'at one's own discretion' or 'of its own accord.' For example, if a machine 'moves on its own,' you might hear 勝手に動く (katte ni ugoku). But when describing a person's behavior, it almost always carries a negative nuance.
No, it's generally not used to describe someone who is independent in a positive way. Independence (e.g., 自立した - jiritsu shita) implies self-reliance and responsibility. 勝手な leans towards a lack of consideration for others, even if it involves doing things on one's own. If you want to praise independence, use different words.
It's generally used in informal and semi-formal contexts. In very formal business or academic settings, you might opt for more precise or softer ways to describe inconsiderate behavior, though 勝手な is still understood. It's more common in everyday conversation.
You would use the adverbial form, 勝手に (katte ni). For example: 「勝手に人の物を使うな」 (Katte ni hito no mono o tsukau na - Don't use other people's things arbitrarily/without permission). 「彼は勝手に決めた」 (Kare wa katte ni kimeta - He decided selfishly/on his own).
Teste dich selbst 66 Fragen
彼女はとても___人です。(Kanojo wa totemo ___ hito desu.)
The sentence means 'She is a very selfish person.' '勝手な' (katte na) fits the meaning of selfish.
自分の___な行動はやめなさい。(Jibun no ___ na kōdō wa yamenasai.)
This sentence means 'Stop your arbitrary actions.' '勝手な' (katte na) expresses arbitrary or selfish.
彼はいつも___に決める。(Kare wa itsumo ___ ni kimeru.)
The sentence means 'He always decides arbitrarily.' '勝手に' (katte ni) is the adverbial form of '勝手な'.
___なことはしないでください。(___ na koto wa shinaide kudasai.)
This means 'Please don't do selfish things.' '勝手な' (katte na) fits the context of selfish or arbitrary actions.
子供は___に遊びたがる。(Kodomo wa ___ ni asobitagaru.)
The sentence means 'Children want to play as they please/arbitrarily.' '勝手に' (katte ni) expresses doing something without considering others.
彼の___な意見は聞きたくない。(Kare no ___ na iken wa kikitakunai.)
This translates to 'I don't want to hear his selfish/arbitrary opinions.' '勝手な' (katte na) describes opinions that are self-serving or without basis.
I am not a selfish person.
Please don't do arbitrary things.
He always says selfish things.
Read this aloud:
勝手なことをしないでください。
Focus: しないで
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
彼女は少し勝手な人です。
Focus: 少し
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
あなたの勝手な意見は聞きたくありません。
Focus: 聞きたくありません
Du hast gesagt:
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彼はいつも___ことをする。
「勝手な」は形容動詞で、名詞を修飾するときは「勝手なこと」のように使います。
私の部屋を___使わないでください。
動詞を修飾するときは副詞の「勝手に」を使います。
そんな___ことを言ってはいけません。
「勝手な」は形容動詞で、名詞を修飾するときは「勝手なこと」のように使います。
彼は私の物を___使った。
動詞を修飾するときは副詞の「勝手に」を使います。
人の物を___使うのはよくない。
動詞を修飾するときは副詞の「勝手に」を使います。
彼女はいつも___行動をする。
「勝手な」は形容動詞で、名詞を修飾するときは「勝手な行動」のように使います。
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 彼はいつも___行動をするので、周りの人を困らせています。
The sentence means 'He always acts ___ so he troubles the people around him.' '勝手な' (selfish/arbitrary) fits best here, implying his actions cause trouble.
Identify the sentence where '勝手な' is used correctly:
'勝手な' describes actions or decisions. Saying '彼女は勝手な意見を言った' means 'She gave a selfish/arbitrary opinion,' which is a correct usage. The other options are grammatically incorrect or nonsensical with '勝手な'.
Which sentence means 'Don't do things selfishly'?
'勝手なことをしないでください' directly translates to 'Please don't do selfish/arbitrary things.' This matches the intended meaning.
If someone is described as '勝手な', it means they are considerate of others.
'勝手な' means selfish or arbitrary, which is the opposite of being considerate of others.
You can use '勝手な' to describe a person who always thinks about themselves first.
'勝手な' is used to describe someone who acts selfishly or does things without considering others, fitting the description of thinking about themselves first.
The phrase '勝手なことを言わないで' means 'Don't say kind things.'
'勝手なことを言わないで' means 'Don't say selfish/arbitrary things' or 'Don't talk nonsense.' It does not mean 'Don't say kind things.'
This sentence means 'He is a selfish person.' '彼' (kare) means 'he', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, '勝手な' (katte na) means 'selfish' or 'arbitrary', '人' (hito) means 'person', and 'です' (desu) is a polite copula.
This sentence means 'Don't just say your opinion arbitrarily.' '自分' (jibun) means 'self', 'の' (no) is a possessive particle, '意見' (iken) means 'opinion', 'を' (o) is a direct object particle, '勝手に' (katte ni) means 'arbitrarily' or 'without permission', and '言わないで' (iwanai de) is a negative command form of 'to say'.
This sentence means 'Don't do such a selfish thing.' 'そんな' (sonna) means 'such', '勝手な' (katte na) means 'selfish' or 'arbitrary', 'こと' (koto) means 'thing', 'を' (o) is a direct object particle, and 'しないで' (shinai de) is a negative command form of 'to do'.
He always acts in his own selfish way.
Please don't just say whatever you want (arbitrary things).
Quitting your job for such a selfish reason is not good.
Read this aloud:
勝手なことを言ってすみません。
Focus: かってなこと
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
彼はいつも勝手な人だ。
Focus: かってなひと
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Read this aloud:
自分の勝手な意見を押し付けないでください。
Focus: じぶんのかってないけん
Du hast gesagt:
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This sentence means 'He bothered everyone with his selfish actions.' The correct order follows the typical Japanese sentence structure: topic (彼), particle (は), adjective (勝手な), noun (行動), particle (で), object (皆), particle (を), and verb (困らせた).
This sentence translates to 'Such selfish behavior is not tolerated.' The order is demonstrative adjective (そんな), 'selfish' (勝手な), noun ('behavior/imitation') (真似), topic particle (は), and negative passive verb (許されない).
This sentence means 'No one agreed with her arbitrary opinion.' It follows the pattern: possessive (彼女の), adjective (勝手な), noun (意見), particle (に), subject (誰も), and negative verb (賛成しなかった).
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 彼はいつも___行動をするので、周りの人を困らせています。
The sentence indicates that his actions bother others, which aligns with the meaning of 勝手な (selfish, arbitrary).
Which of the following situations best describes someone being 勝手な?
勝手な refers to acting selfishly or arbitrarily, often without regard for others.
「勝手なことを言ってすみません」という表現は、どのような感情を表していますか？
「勝手なことを言ってすみません」literally means 'Sorry for saying something selfish/arbitrary,' expressing an apology.
「勝手な」は、他人の意見を尊重する態度を表す。
「勝手な」describes behavior that disregards others' opinions and acts on one's own terms.
上司に「勝手なことをするな」と言われた場合、それはあなたの行動が適切であったことを意味する。
If a superior tells you 'Don't do arbitrary things,' it means your actions were inappropriate or selfish, not appropriate.
「勝手な」は、ポジティブな意味で使われることもある。
「勝手な」almost always carries a negative connotation, implying selfishness or arbitrariness.
Explain a situation where someone acted 勝手な and the consequences of their actions. Focus on describing their arbitrary behavior and how it affected others.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼は会議中に自分の意見ばかりを主張し、他のメンバーの意見には耳を傾けなかった。その勝手な行動のせいで、チーム全体の士気が下がり、プロジェクトの進行が遅れてしまった。
Describe a time you encountered someone being 勝手な in a public setting (e.g., a train, a shop). What did they do, and what was your reaction?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
電車の中で、ある人が大声で電話をしていた。周りの乗客は皆迷惑そうにしていたが、彼は全く気にせず話し続けていた。その勝手な態度に、私は非常に不快な気持ちになった。
Imagine you are advising a friend who is often described as 勝手な. What advice would you give them to improve their relationships with others?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
友達がよく勝手だと言われるなら、まず自分の行動が周りにどう影響するか考えてみるべきだと思う。もう少し周りの意見を聞いて、協調性を大切にすれば、きっと人間関係も良くなるはずだ。
Aさんのどのような行動が「勝手な」と評価されていますか？
Read this passage:
ある会社で、新入社員のAさんが勝手な行動をとり、周囲の社員を困らせていました。Aさんは上司の指示を無視して自分のやり方で仕事を進めたり、チームの会議に無断で欠席したりすることが多かったのです。その結果、チーム内の連携が乱れ、プロジェクトの納期にも影響が出始めました。上司はAさんを呼び出し、彼の勝手な行動が会社全体に与える悪影響について厳しく指導しました。
Aさんのどのような行動が「勝手な」と評価されていますか？
Aさんは上司の指示を無視して自分のやり方で仕事を進め、チームの会議に無断で欠席するなど、周囲に配慮しない行動をとっていました。
Aさんは上司の指示を無視して自分のやり方で仕事を進め、チームの会議に無断で欠席するなど、周囲に配慮しない行動をとっていました。
この文章から、Bさんの「勝手な」行動がどのような影響を与えていると読み取れますか？
Read this passage:
友人のBは、いつも自分の都合ばかりを優先する勝手な性格の持ち主です。例えば、みんなで旅行の計画を立てている時も、行きたい場所や時間帯を一方的に決めようとします。また、約束の時間に平気で遅れてきたり、急なキャンセルも当たり前。最初は我慢していましたが、最近では彼の勝手な言動にうんざりしています。このままでは、友情にもひびが入ってしまうかもしれません。
この文章から、Bさんの「勝手な」行動がどのような影響を与えていると読み取れますか？
筆者はBさんの勝手な言動に「うんざり」しており、「このままでは、友情にもひびが入ってしまうかもしれない」と述べているため、友情に疑問を感じ始めていることが読み取れます。
筆者はBさんの勝手な言動に「うんざり」しており、「このままでは、友情にもひびが入ってしまうかもしれない」と述べているため、友情に疑問を感じ始めていることが読み取れます。
インターネット上での「勝手な行為」の例として、どのようなことが挙げられていますか？
Read this passage:
現代社会において、個人主義が浸透する一方で、「勝手な行動」が問題視されるケースが増えています。特にインターネット上では、匿名性を利用して無責任な発言をしたり、他人のプライバシーを侵害したりする勝手な行為が後を絶ちません。こうした行為は、社会全体の信頼関係を損ねるだけでなく、時には大きなトラブルに発展することもあります。私たちは、個人の自由と同時に、他者への配慮や社会的な責任を常に意識する必要があります。
インターネット上での「勝手な行為」の例として、どのようなことが挙げられていますか？
インターネット上での「勝手な行為」の例として、「匿名性を利用して無責任な発言をしたり、他人のプライバシーを侵害したりする勝手な行為」が挙げられています。
インターネット上での「勝手な行為」の例として、「匿名性を利用して無責任な発言をしたり、他人のプライバシーを侵害したりする勝手な行為」が挙げられています。
彼の____な行動が、チームの雰囲気を悪くした。
「勝手な」は形容動詞なので、名詞「行動」を修飾するには「勝手な」が適切です。
部長の____な指示に、皆が戸惑いを隠せないでいる。
「勝手な」は形容動詞であり、名詞「指示」を修飾する際には「勝手な」を使用します。
そんな____なことを言わないで、少しは周りの意見も聞いてください。
「勝手な」は形容動詞であり、ここでは「こと」を修飾する形で使われています。
彼女の____な振る舞いは、周囲に誤解を与えやすい。
「勝手な」は名詞「振る舞い」を修飾する形容動詞の形です。
自分の____な都合ばかりを優先するようでは、協力は得られないだろう。
「勝手な」は名詞「都合」を修飾するために形容動詞の形が使われています。
彼の____な解釈が、議論を複雑にしてしまった。
「勝手な」は名詞「解釈」を修飾する形容動詞として適切です。
This sentence means 'Selfish actions can sometimes hurt others.' The correct order starts with '自分勝手な' (selfish) modifying '行動' (actions), followed by the particle 'は' (topic marker). Then '他人を' (others) as the object, '傷つける' (to hurt), and 'こともあります' (can sometimes).
This sentence means 'His arbitrary decision delayed the project.' Start with '彼の' (his) modifying '勝手な' (arbitrary) '判断' (decision). 'が' marks the subject. 'プロジェクトを' (project) is the object, and '遅らせた' (delayed) is the verb.
This sentence means 'You shouldn't say such selfish things.' 'そんな' (such) modifies '勝手なこと' (selfish things). '言っては' (saying) plus 'いけません' (must not) forms the prohibition.
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Verwandte Inhalte
Ähnliche Regeln
Mehr emotions Wörter
ぼんやり
B1Vaguely; absentmindedly; dimly.
夢中
B1Absorption; engrossment; infatuation.
受け止める
B1To accept; to take; to grasp.
達成感
B1Sense of accomplishment.
ひしひしと
B1Acutely; keenly; strongly (feeling something).
適応する
B1To adapt; to adjust.
健気な
B2Brave, admirable, or plucky (especially of a weaker person).
感心な
B1Admirable; deserving admiration.
感心
B1Admiration, impression, or being impressed.
感心する
B1To be impressed; to admire.
