Japanese meaning of 虚心坦懐

Reading: AI

きょしんたんかい (kyoshin tankai)

English Translation:

With an open and honest mind; free from prejudice

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

To be open and honest, without prejudice or hidden motives.

Cultural Context:

Used in contexts like receiving criticism, negotiation, or leadership; valued in Japanese culture for fostering trust.

偏見や隠し事なく、心を開いて素直であること。
批判を受けるときや交渉、リーダーシップにおいて使われ、日本文化では信頼を築くために重視される。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• Adverbial phrase with “に受け止める” or “に聞く” to describe listening or responding with openness and sincerity (“虚心坦懐に受け止める”).
• Also used as “な態度” to describe a person’s approach.

Trap for English Speakers

Might be read as a noun-only phrase, but it functions as a na-adjective as well.

Example

Basic Example

虚心坦懐に意見を聞くことで、より良い解決策が見えてくる。

Listening with an open and honest mind helps you find better solutions.

Applied Example

虚心坦懐に意見を聞き、最善の案を選んだ。

With an open and honest mind, he listened to opinions and chose the best plan.