Signification
To provide a detailed and polite explanation.
Contexte culturel
The 'Customer is God' ({お客様|おきゃくさま}は{神様|かみさま}です) mentality makes '{丁寧|ていねい}に{説明|せつめい}する' a mandatory skill for all service workers. In 'Ho-Ren-So' culture, providing a '{丁寧|ていねい}な{説明|せつめい}' to your boss is seen as a sign of loyalty and competence. Japanese teachers often use this phrase to describe their goal: ensuring no student is left behind by being 'teinei'. On Japanese Twitter (X), users often praise helpful threads by saying 'とても{丁寧|ていねい}な{説明|せつめい}で{助|たす}かりました' (It was a very careful explanation and it helped).
Pair with 'Wakariyasuku'
Saying '{丁寧|ていねい}に、かつ{分|わ}かりやすく{説明|せつめい}する' (Explain politely and clearly) is the ultimate compliment for a speaker.
Don't Overdo It
If you explain something too '{丁寧|ていねい}' to a superior who already knows it, you might accidentally sound like you are 'talking down' to them.
Signification
To provide a detailed and polite explanation.
Pair with 'Wakariyasuku'
Saying '{丁寧|ていねい}に、かつ{分|わ}かりやすく{説明|せつめい}する' (Explain politely and clearly) is the ultimate compliment for a speaker.
Don't Overdo It
If you explain something too '{丁寧|ていねい}' to a superior who already knows it, you might accidentally sound like you are 'talking down' to them.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct particle to make the adjective an adverb.
{田中|たなか}さんは{丁寧|ていねい}（ ）{説明|せつめい}してくれました。
'{丁寧|ていねい}' is a na-adjective, so it needs 'に' to modify the verb '{説明|せつめい}する'.
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '{丁寧|ていねい}に{説明|せつめい}する'?
Choose the best context:
This requires both high detail and high politeness/care, which is the essence of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue in a business setting.
A: {契約|けいやく}の{内容|ないよう}が{難|むずか}しいです。 B: {申|もう}し{訳|わけ}ございません。もう{一度|いちど}（ ）。
In a business context, offering to explain again politely is the standard professional response.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercices{田中|たなか}さんは{丁寧|ていねい}（ ）{説明|せつめい}してくれました。
'{丁寧|ていねい}' is a na-adjective, so it needs 'に' to modify the verb '{説明|せつめい}する'.
Choose the best context:
This requires both high detail and high politeness/care, which is the essence of the phrase.
A: {契約|けいやく}の{内容|ないよう}が{難|むずか}しいです。 B: {申|もう}し{訳|わけ}ございません。もう{一度|いちど}（ ）。
In a business context, offering to explain again politely is the standard professional response.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
2 questionsNo, it's used anytime you want to emphasize care and detail, like teaching a child or helping a friend with a complex game.
'{詳|くわ}しく' focuses on the quantity of information. '{丁寧|ていねい}に' focuses on the quality and the respectful manner of the explanation.
Expressions liées
{詳|くわ}しく{話|はな}す
similarTo talk in detail.
{解説|かいせつ}する
specialized formTo provide commentary or analysis.
{手短|てみじか}に{説明|せつめい}する
contrastTo explain briefly.
{納得|なっとく}がいくまで{話|はな}す
builds onTo talk until the other person is satisfied.
