Entry
のほほん
nohohon
Describes being relaxed, carefree, and unconcerned about one's surroundings or problems.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Nohohon expresses a state of living peacefully or acting nonchalantly without worries. While it can describe a pleasantly relaxed lifestyle, it often carries a mildly negative nuance of lacking a sense of urgency when one should be paying attention.
- carefree lifestyle
- lacking urgency
Sense Map
Carefree and relaxed
Used to describe someone who lives comfortably without stress or worries.
のほほんと暮らす
Nonchalant (lacking urgency)
Used when someone is oblivious to a serious situation and acts unbothered.
のほほんと構える
Usage Note
How to Use
のほほんとする
Acts as a verb meaning 'to be carefree' or 'to act nonchalantly'.
のほほんと + verb
Acts as an adverb modifying verbs like living or waiting, doing so without care.
のほほんとした + noun
Acts as an adjective modifying a noun, typically someone's personality or expression.
How to Use
Common Phrases
のほほんと暮らす
to live a carefree life
のほほんとしている
to be carefree/unbothered
のほほんとした性格
a carefree personality
のほほんと構える
to take a relaxed stance (often lacking urgency)
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Daily life | neutral to positive | Describes a peaceful, stress-free existence. |
| Emergencies or work | negative | Implies the person is oblivious and lacks a required sense of urgency. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
のこのこ のこのこ / similar | Used when someone shamelessly shows up to a place where they perhaps shouldn't be. | Nohohon describes a general unbothered attitude, whereas nokonoko is specifically about the action of appearing somewhere uninvited or unconcerned. | のこのこ現れる |
けろり けろり / similar | Used when someone is completely unaffected by a specific shocking or painful event. | Nohohon describes a continuous lack of worry, while kerori describes a surprisingly fast recovery or lack of reaction to an event. | けろりとしている |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to mean physically resting (like sleeping or taking a bath).
It refers to a mental state of not worrying or a lack of urgency, not physical rest.
Using it as a compliment for a coworker's calmness under pressure.
It implies they aren't taking the situation seriously enough, which can sound critical.
Examples
Examples
彼は毎日、のほほんと暮らしている。
かれはまいにち、のほほんとくらしている。
He lives a carefree life every day.
FigurativeFocuses on a lifestyle free from stress.
彼女はいつも、のほほんとしている。
かのじょはいつも、のほほんとしている。
She is always so relaxed and nonchalant.
FigurativeDescribes a general personality trait of not worrying easily.
こんな大変な時に、のほほんと構えている場合じゃない。
こんなたいへんなときに、のほほんとかまえているばあいじゃない。
This is no time to be taking it easy when things are this tough.
FigurativeUsed in a negative context to criticize a lack of urgency.
のほほんとした性格の人が羨ましい。
のほほんとしたせいかくのひとがうらやましい。
I envy people with a carefree personality.
FigurativeExpresses a desire to have a similarly unbothered nature.
緊張感もなく、ただのほほんと座っていた。
きんちょうかんもなく、ただのほほんとすわっていた。
They were just sitting there nonchalantly without any sense of tension.
VisualDescribes the visual appearance of sitting without a care.
Similar Words
のこのこ
nokonoko
Nokonoko describes someone showing up or acting in a shameless, unconcerned manner when they should feel embarrassed or hesitant. Used for the action of showing up somewhere shamelessly.
けろり
kerori
Describes acting nonchalantly as if nothing happened, or completely returning to a normal state. Describes sudden unaffectedness to an event that should have a major impact.
Questions
Is 'nohohon' a compliment?
Usually not. While it can mean pleasantly stress-free, it often implies someone is too relaxed when they should be taking things seriously.
Can I use it for animals?
Yes, you can use it to describe a pet looking completely relaxed and unbothered.
How is it different from 'nonbiri'?
'Nonbiri' just means taking one's time or relaxing, whereas 'nohohon' often implies being oblivious to worries or lacking tension.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2009360
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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