discerning
目の肥えた
解説 Definition
discerning は、品質や違いをよく見分けられる「目の肥えた」という意味の形容詞です。人の判断力が鋭く、細かな差や本質を理解できることを表します。
Able to recognize fine differences in quality, value, or character and to make careful, intelligent judgments. It commonly describes people, audiences, customers, or a well-trained eye or taste.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
discern「見分ける」に -ing が付いて形容詞化した語で、発音は /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/。単に知識があるのでなく、細かな品質差を見抜いて選べる人を表す。discerning reader、discerning customer、a discerning eye の組み合わせで「目の肥えた」と覚える。
Connect discerning with the verb discern, meaning “to recognize or distinguish something clearly.” The -ing form has become an adjective for someone whose judgment actively separates the excellent from the ordinary. Picture a discerning customer comparing two nearly identical products and noticing the difference in materials or workmanship. Common combinations include discerning readers, discerning customers, discerning taste, and a discerning eye. Unlike merely knowledgeable, discerning emphasizes the ability to judge subtle differences and choose well.
例文
Discerning readers will notice the small changes in the text.
目の肥えた読者なら本文の小さな変更に気づくだろう。
The restaurant is popular with discerning customers.
そのレストランは目の肥えた客に人気がある。
She has a discerning eye for traditional design.
彼女は伝統的なデザインを見分ける目が肥えている。
discerning の類義語・関連語
対義語
紛らわしい語
discerning の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ラテン語discernere（dis「離れて」＋cernere「分ける」）に由来し、古フランス語経由で英語に入りました。「物事を区別して分ける」意味から転じ、「質の違いを正確に見極める＝目の肥えた」へと発展しました。同系語にdiscriminateやdiscernmentがあります。
Discerning is the participial adjective formed from discern plus -ing. Discern entered English through Old French from Latin discernere, composed of dis-, expressing separation, and cernere, “to sift, distinguish, or decide.” The underlying idea is separating one thing from another through careful judgment. From the literal ability to distinguish differences, the adjective developed its present sense of having refined judgment or taste.
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