素直 vs. 正直: What is The Difference Between Them?

素直すなお vs. 正直しょうじき: What is The Difference Between Them?

Is it still difficult for you to explain the difference between 素直すなお and 正直しょうじき? Although these words are one of the complicated words, they have clear differences. After figuring them out, why don’t you practice how to use them? Let me introduce what their differences are today!

素直すなお(sunao)

Obedient (Honest)

“素直すなお(sunao)” means “Obedient” and which has been used as the meaning of “doing, or willing to do, what you have been told to do by someone in authority”. The basic way to use it is “___は素直すなおだ。(___ am/is/are obedient.)”, etc. For instance, “弟’おとうと’は素直すなおだ。(My younger brother is obedient.)”, etc. The tips for using it is that 素直’すなお’ has been used as the meaning of “UNDOUBTEDLY DO WAHT SOMEONE TELL”, unlike “正直しょうじき“. Everyone could use 素直’すなお’ as casual, polite and formal such as “弟おとうとは素直すなおだよ。(My younger brother is obedient.)” as casual and “弟おとうとは素直すなおです。(My younger brother is obedient.)” as polite and formal. Although some people use “素直すなお” is used as the same meaning of “正直しょうじき“, again basically “素直すなお” means “Obedient”.

"主" Kanji Course (JLPT-4)

2020.03.23

Example

ゆか
素直すなおだね。 (You are obedient.) (你很诚实。) (솔직하네.) (Cậu thành thật thật đó.)

たつや
メールだと素直すなおになれるよ。 (I can be honest when I text you.) (在发邮件的时候，就会变得坦率。) (글로 대화하면 솔직해지는 법이에요) (Nhắn tin thì tớ có thể dám nói thẳng hơn.)

ゆか
もっと素直すなおだったんだけどなー。 (I used to be more obedient though.) (以往更坦率呢。) (좀 더 순순했었는데 말야.) (Hồi trước còn thành thật hơn bây giờ cơ.)

たつや
親おやに素直すなおになった方ほうがいいよ。 (You gotta be obedient to your parents.) (你最好向父母坦白。) (부모님께는 솔직해지는 편이 좋아) (Cậu nên vâng lời cha mẹ.)

正直しょうじき (shoujiki)

Honest

“正直しょうじき(shoujiki)” means “Honest” and which has been used as the meaning of “telling the truth or able to be trusted and not likely to steal, cheat, or lie”. The basic way to use it is “___は正直しょうじきだ。(___ am/is/are honest.)”, etc. For instance, “弟おとうとは正直しょうじきだ。(My younger brother is honest.)”, etc. The tips for using it is that “正直しょうじき” has been used as the meaning of “TO TELL THE TRUTH”, unlike “素直すなお“. Everyone could use “正直しょうじき” as casual, polite and formal such as “弟おとうとは正直しょうじきだよ。(My younger brother is honest.)” as casual and “弟おとうとは正直しょうじきです。(My younger brother is honest.)” as polite and formal. So, some people are “正直しょうじき, however, they are not sometimes “素直すなお“.

#83 Today’s Japanese Question Grammar(N2-N3)

2020.03.23

Example

正直しょうじきにいうと、あのケーキ好すきじゃなかったんだ。 (To be honest, I didn’t like that wine.) (说实话，我不喜欢那个蛋糕。) (솔직히 말하자면, 그 케이크는 좋아하지 않았어.) (Nói thật là tớ không thích cái bánh đó.)

正直しょうじきに話はなしてよ。 (Tell me the truth.) (请说实话。) (솔직하게 말해 봐.) (Cậu nói thật đi nào.)

正直しょうじきに言いってくれてありがとう。 (Thank you for being honest.) (谢谢你的诚实。) (솔직하게 말해줘서 고마워.) (Cám ơn cậu đã nói thật với mình.)

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友達ともだちとうまくやるには、正直しょうじきになることが大切たいせつだよ。 (It’s very important to be honest to get along with your friends.) (要和朋友进行得顺利，正直坦率很重要哦。) (친구와 사이 좋게 지내려면 솔직해지는게 가장 중요해.) (Trung thực là điều quan trọng để giữ quan hệ tốt với bạn bè đấy.)