控えめ（ひかえめ）
JLPT N2 · noun
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, then stays high with no drop
Meaning: modest/restrained
Example sentences
- 彼女は控えめで、でしゃばらない。 — She's modest and never pushes herself forward.
- 味付けは控えめにする。 — I'll go easy on the seasoning.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “控えめ” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)