Translation and Meaning of: 新しい - atarashii

Se você está aprendendo japonês, certamente já se deparou com a palavra 新しい (あたらしい), que significa "novo". Mas será que você sabe como ela surgiu, como é usada no dia a dia ou até mesmo como memorizá-la mais facilmente? Neste artigo, vamos explorar a fundo essa palavra essencial, desde sua etimologia até dicas práticas para fixá-la na mente. Aqui no Suki Nihongo, o maior dicionário de japonês online, você também vai descobrir como escrever corretamente o kanji e ainda aprender frases prontas para incluir no seu Anki ou outro sistema de memorização espaçada.

Além do significado básico, há muito o que desvendar sobre あたらしい. Por exemplo, você sabia que essa palavra tem uma conexão interessante com o conceito de "frescor" e "renovação"? E que seu kanji esconde uma história visual que pode ajudar na memorização? Vamos lá!

Etymology and Origin of 新しい

A palavra 新しい tem raízes antigas no japonês, remontando ao período Heian (794-1185). Originalmente, era escrita como "あたらし" (atarashi) e só mais tarde recebeu o kanji 新. Curiosamente, alguns linguistas acreditam que o termo está relacionado ao conceito de "valor" (価値), já que coisas novas costumam ser mais valiosas. Outra teoria sugere uma ligação com "ata" (貴), que significa "precioso" – afinal, o novo sempre parece mais especial, não é?

The kanji 新 is a fascinating pictographic combination. It unites the radical for "tree" (木) with "cut" (斤), literally symbolizing "cutting fresh wood." This mental image can be useful for memorizing the character: think of lumberjacks working with freshly cut logs, still smelling of resin. This concrete association helps to solidify both the writing and the meaning.

Lies in Japanese Everyday Life

No Japão, あたらしい vai muito além de simplesmente descrever objetos recém-adquiridos. Ela carrega uma nuance de frescor e possibilidade. Quando um japonês diz "新しい携帯" (novo celular), há um brilho nos olhos – é quase como se estivesse falando de um novo começo. Essa palavra aparece constantemente em propagandas, especialmente no lançamento de produtos tecnológicos, onde a novidade é um valor supremo.

An interesting usage is in the expression "新しい風" (atarashii kaze), which literally means "new wind," but refers to a sense of renewal, whether in politics, business, or even relationships. It is also common to hear "新しいことを始める" (starting something new) during the Japanese New Year, showing how the culture values new beginnings. Try using this phrase the next time you want to impress a Japanese friend with your plans!

Tips for Memorization and Curiosities

To remember the kanji 新, how about creating a visual story? Imagine that the left side (木) is a tree, and the right side (斤) is an axe chopping it – you are literally "doing something new" by transforming the wood. As for the pronunciation, notice how "あたらしい" sounds like "a ta ra shi i" – almost as if you're presenting something enthusiastically: "Ah, see? Ha! Shi! It's new!"

A cultural curiosity: in Japan, saying that something is "新しい" can have positive or negative connotations. While new products are celebrated, in human relations it may suggest a lack of experience. Therefore, be cautious when calling your boss "新しい社長" (new president) – it's better to use "新任の" (newly appointed) to sound more polite. So, are you ready to use 新しい like a native?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 新しい (Atarashii) - New; recent
• 新規の (Shinki no) - new; unprecedented; used to describe something that has not been used before, such as a product or service.
• 新たな (Aratana) - new; renewed; used in more formal contexts
• 新たなる (Aratanaru) - uma nova forma
• 新しき (Atarashiki) - new; an ancient or literary form of "new"
• 新しめ (Atarashime) - relatively new; a bit new
• 新た (Arata) - new; used in more formal contexts
• 新しいもの (Atarashii mono) - new thing; new item or object
• 新しい方 (Atarashii kata) - a new person; a way to refer to someone new
• 新しいの (Atarashii no) - the new; used informally to refer to something new
• 新しいこと (Atarashii koto) - new thing; a new situation or fact
• 新しい形 (Atarashii katachi) - new form; referring to a new format or structure
• 新しいタイプ (Atarashii taipu) - new type; a new style or category
• 新しいスタイル (Atarashii sutairu) - new style; used in contexts of fashion or design
• 新しいデザイン (Atarashii dezain) - new design; referring to a new project or aesthetic
• 新しいアイデア (Atarashii aidea) - new idea; a new concept
• 新しい発想 (Atarashii hassou) - new thought; a new way of thinking
• 新しい試み (Atarashii kokoromi) - new effort; a new attempt or experiment
• 新しい展開 (Atarashii tenkai) - new development; a new evolution in a situation
• 新しい挑戦 (Atarashii chousen) - new challenge; a new test or adventure
• 新しいスタート (Atarashii sutaato) - new beginning; a new start
• 新しい人生 (Atarashii jinsei) - new life; a new path in life
• 新しい世界 (Atarashii sekai) - new world; a new space for experiences
• 新しい時代 (Atarashii jidai) - new era; a new historical or cultural phase
• 新しい風 (Atarashii kaze) - new wind; a new perspective or influence
• 新しい息吹 (Atarashii ibuki) - new breath; a new strength or vitality
• 新しい血液 (Atarashii ketsueki) - new blood; symbolizing new energies or influences
• 新しいエネルギー (Atarashii enerugi) - new energy; a new strength or vigor
• 新しい可能性 (Atarashii kanousei) - new possibilities; new opportunities or potentials
• 新しい未来 (Atarashii mirai) - new future; new perspectives for tomorrow

新しい

Romaji: atarashii
Kana: あたらしい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: new

Meaning in English: new

Definition: Something that recently appeared or was created.

Example Sentences - (新しい) atarashii

See below some example sentences:

私たちは新しいアイデアを受け入れる準備ができています。

Watashitachi wa atarashii aidea o ukeire suru junbi ga dekite imasu

We are ready to accept new ideas.

We are ready to accept new ideas.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 新しい - adjective "new"
• アイデア - noun "idea"
• を - direct object particle
• 受け入れる - verb "to accept, to receive"
• 準備 - noun "preparation, readiness"
• が - subject particle
• できています - verb "to be ready, to be prepared" conjugated in the present progressive

私の部門は新しいプロジェクトに取り組んでいます。

Watashi no bumon wa atarashii purojekuto ni torikunde imasu

My department is working on a new project.

• 私の部門 - "Watashi no bumon" means "my department" in Japanese.
• は - "wa" is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 新しい - "atarashii" means "new" in Japanese.
• プロジェクト - "purojekuto" is a word in Japanese that means "project".
• に - "ni" is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the direction or target of an action.
• 取り組んでいます - "torikundeimasu" is a verbal form in Japanese that means "we are working hard."

視点を変えることで新しい発見がある。

Shiten wo kaeru koto de atarashii hakken ga aru

Changing the point of view can lead to new discoveries.

There is a new discovery by changing the point of view.

• 視点 (shiten) - point of view
• を (wo) - object particle
• 変える (kaeru) - change/alter
• ことで (koto de) - through
• 新しい (atarashii) - new
• 発見 (hakken) - discovery
• が (ga) - subject particle
• ある (aru) - exist/have

辞書を使って新しい言葉を学びましょう。

Jisho wo tsukatte atarashii kotoba wo manabimashou

Let's learn new words using a dictionary.

Learn new words using a dictionary.

• 辞書 - dictionary
• を - direct object particle
• 使って - using
• 新しい - new
• 言葉 - word
• を - direct object particle
• 学びましょう - let's learn

辞典を使って新しい言葉を学びましょう。

Jisho wo tsukatte atarashii kotoba wo manabimashou

Let's learn new words using a dictionary.

Learn new words using the dictionary.

• 辞典 - dictionary
• を - direct object particle
• 使って - using
• 新しい - new
• 言葉 - word
• を - direct object particle
• 学びましょう - let's learn