Kedakai is the Japanese word for ‘noble’, explained

What does “kedakai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kedakai” often to mean ‘noble’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “kedakai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “kedakai”
  • Example #1: how to say “noble” in Japanese
• Kedakakunai: the nai form of “kedakai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not noble” in Japanese
• Kedakakatta: the ta form of “kedakai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was noble” in Japanese
• Kedakakute: the te form of “kedakai”
  • Example #4: how to say “noble and” in Japanese
• Kedakakereba: the ba form of “kedakai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if noble” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “kedakai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kedakai”.

• kedakai – 気高い (けだかい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘noble’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective to describe those who have good morals. So, the usage is similar to that of the English adjective, “noble”, I think.

This kanji expression contains two kanji characters. The first one means a ‘mood’, ‘mind’, or ‘feeling’ in Japanese; the second means ‘high’. So, this kanji expression can describe those who have admirable mindsets.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “noble” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “kuni” to say “this country” in Japanese.
• kuni – 国 (くに) : a noun meaning ‘country’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• no – の : a case particle joining two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this works to join “kono kuni” and “ousama”. The formed phrase literally means ‘the king of this country’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to that of the English preposition, “of”.
• ousama – 王様 (おうさま) : a noun meaning ‘king’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono kuni no ousama” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “kedakai”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “kedakai ousama” to mean ‘the noble king’ in Japanese.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kedakai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “kedakakunai”.

Kedakakunai: the nai form of “kedakai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kedakakunai”.

• kedakakunai – 気高くない (けだかくない) : the nai form of “kedakai”, which means ‘not noble’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kedakakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• kedakaku – 気高く (けだかく) : one conjugation of “kedakai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kedakakunai” is literally the nai form of “kedakai” and means ‘not noble’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not noble” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• ouji – 王子 (おうじ) : a noun meaning ‘prince’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “kedakakunai”. When we want to mean ‘not noble’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Kedakakatta: the ta form of “kedakai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kedakakatta”.

• kedakakatta – 気高かった (けだかかった) : the ta form of “kedakai”, which means ‘was noble’, ‘were noble’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kedakakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• kedakakat – 気高かっ (けだかかっ) : one conjugation of “kedakai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kedakakatta” is literally the ta form of “kedakai” and means ‘was noble’, ‘were noble’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was noble” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “kare” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
• mukashi – 昔 (むかし) : a noun meaning ‘past’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “wa” to make the adverb phrase which means ‘before’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kedakakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kedakai”, this ta form is the best option.

Kedakakute: the te form of “kedakai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kedakakute”.

• kedakakute – 気高くて (けだかくて) : the te form of “kedakai”, which means ‘noble’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kedakakute” consists of the following two parts:

• kedakaku – 気高く (けだかく) : one conjugation of “kedakai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kedakakute” is literally the te form of “kedakai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kedakakute” is very useful when we want to use “kedakai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “noble and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• neko – 猫 (ねこ) : a noun meaning ‘cat’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• utsukushii – 美しい (うつくしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘beautiful’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kedakakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “utsukushii”. When we want to use “kedakai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Kedakakereba: the ba form of “kedakai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “kedakakereba”.

• kedakakereba – 気高ければ (けだかければ) : the ba form of “kedakai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘noble’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kedakakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• kedakakere – 気高けれ (けだかけれ) : one conjugation of “kedakai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kedakakereba” is literally the ba form of “kedakai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kedakakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘noble’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if noble” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say what someone or something becomes after a change or action. In the example, this is used after “ousama” to say what the listener can become.
• nareru – なれる : a potential verb meaning ‘can become’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kedakakereba”. In this example, it works as the conditional clause in the sentence and means ‘if you are noble’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘noble’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kedakai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kedakai – 気高い (けだかい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘noble’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• kedakakunai – 気高くない (けだかくない) : the nai form of “kedakai”, which means ‘not noble’ in Japanese.
• kedakakatta – 気高かった (けだかかった) : the ta form of “kedakai”, which means ‘was noble’, ‘were noble’, or such in Japanese.
• kedakakute – 気高くて (けだかくて) : the te form of “kedakai”, which means ‘noble’ in Japanese. When we want to use “kedakai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• kedakakereba – 気高ければ (けだかければ) : the ba form of “kedakai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘noble’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.