Meaning
To provide a detailed and polite explanation.
Cultural Background
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.
Meaning
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.
Test Yourself
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
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercises{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
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Related Phrases
{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.
