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:

朝は新しい始まりです。

Asa wa atarashii hajimari desu

The morning is a new beginning.

The morning is a new beginning.

• 朝 - morning
• は - Topic particle
• 新しい - new
• 始まり - beginning
• です - Verb to be

乗り換えることは新しい冒険を始めることです。

Norikae suru koto wa atarashii bouken o hajimeru koto desu

Changing trains is like starting a new adventure.

The transfer is starting a new adventure.

• 乗り換える - means "to change means of transport" or "to make a connection"
• こと - is a particle that indicates that the previous word is a noun and that it is being used as the subject of the sentence
• は - it is a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 新しい - means "new"
• 冒険 - means "adventure"
• を - it is a particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 始める - It means "Begin"
• こと - again the particle that indicates the noun used as the topic of the sentence
• です - it is a particle that indicates that the sentence is a statement

この新しいビジネスモデルの確立には時間がかかるでしょう。

Kono atarashii bijinesu moderu no kakuritsu ni wa jikan ga kakaru deshou

Establishing this new business model will take time.

• この (kono) - this
• 新しい (atarashii) - new
• ビジネスモデル (bijinesu moderu) - business model
• の (no) - of
• 確立 (kakuritsu) - establishment
• には (niwa) - require
• 時間 (jikan) - time
• がかかる (gakakaru) - will take
• でしょう (deshou) - probably

この新しいシステムの導入はスムーズに行われました。

Kono atarashii shisutemu no dōnyū wa sumūzu ni okonawaremashita

The introduction of this new system was carried out without any issues.

• この - this
• 新しい - new
• システム - system
• の - of
• 導入 - introduction
• は - is
• スムーズに - gently
• 行われました - was carried out

この新しい製品には多くの反響がありました。

Kono atarashii seihin ni wa ooku no hankyō ga arimashita

This new product had a lot of repercussions.

This new product got a lot of response.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here" in Japanese
• 新しい - adjective that means "new" in Japanese
• 製品 - noun that means "product" in Japanese
• には - particle that indicates the existence of something in a specific place or time in Japanese
• 多くの - an adjective that means "many" in Japanese
• 反響 - noun that means "reaction" or "response" in Japanese
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence in Japanese
• ありました - verb that means "there was" or "existed" in Japanese, in the polite past

この二つの会社は合同して新しいプロジェクトを始めます。

Kono futatsu no kaisha wa gōdō shite atarashii purojekuto o hajimemasu

These two companies start a new project together.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 二つ - numeral meaning "two"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 会社 - noun meaning "company"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 合同して - compound verb meaning "to unite" or "to come together"
• 新しい - adjective meaning "new"
• プロジェクト - noun meaning "project"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 始めます - verb meaning "to begin"

元年は新しい始まりです。

Gannen wa atarashii hajimari desu

The first year is a new beginning.

• 元年 - New Year
• は - Topic particle
• 新しい - New
• 始まり - Beginning
• です - Ser/estar (linking verb)

彼は新しいアイデアを齎らした。

Kare wa atarashii aidea o hakarashta

He brought a new idea.

• 彼 (kare) - he (personal pronoun)
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 新しい (atarashii) - new (adjective)
• アイデア (aidea) - idea (noun)
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 齎らした (motaras(hi)ta) - brought, presented, proposed (past verb)

彼は新しい役職に任命された。

Kare wa atarashii yakushoku ni ninmei sareta

He was appointed to a new post.

He was appointed as a new position.

• 彼 (kare) - he
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 新しい (atarashii) - new
• 役職 (yakushoku) - position
• に (ni) - target particle
• 任命された (ninmei sareta) - was appointed

彼は私に新しい技を仕付けた。

Kare wa watashi ni atarashii waza o shitsuketa

He taught me a new technique.

He had a new technique for me.

• 彼 - The Japanese pronoun that means "he" is 彼 (かれ, kare).
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "he".
• 私に - Japanese pronoun that means "for me"
• 新しい - 新しい (atarashii)
• 技 - Japanese noun that means "technique" or "skill"
• を - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "technique".
• 仕付けた - Japanese verb that means "taught" or "trained"