shrewdness
抜け目なさ
解説 Definition
状況を素早く見抜き、自分に有利になるよう巧みに判断して行動する力を表す名詞。特に商売や交渉の場面で、油断なく機会を捉える賢さや、現実的で鋭い判断力を指して使われる。
Shrewdness is the quality of being clever, practical, and good at judging people or situations. It often helps someone make good decisions, especially in business, money matters, or negotiation. The word usually has a positive meaning, though it can also suggest being a little calculating.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず形で覚えると残りやすいです。shrewd を知っていれば、-ness が付いた shrewdness は「抜け目ないこと・したたかさ」という名詞だと取りやすくなります。単なる intelligence や wisdom よりも、商売・交渉・駆け引きで相手や状況を素早く読んで得を取る現実感のある賢さを含みます。business shrewdness のように使われやすく、「頭がいい」より「機会を逃さない鋭さ」という芯でまとめると定着します。
If you know `shrewd`, then `shrewdness` is easy: `-ness` turns the adjective into a noun. This word often appears in practical situations like business, deals, or strategy, so connect it with `business shrewdness`. It is not just general intelligence, but smart judgment that helps someone notice chances and avoid mistakes.
例文
His shrewdness in business dealings was legendary.
商取引における彼の抜け目なさは伝説的だった。
She showed great shrewdness in negotiating the contract.
彼女は契約交渉で大いにしたたかさを見せた。
The trader's shrewdness helped him accumulate wealth.
そのトレーダーは抜け目なさのおかげで財産を築くことができた。
shrewdness の類義語・関連語
shrewdness の語源・成り立ち Etymology
中英語の shrewd に名詞化の -ness が付いた語です。shrewd は shrew「悪人・口やかましい人」にさかのぼり、元の「意地悪い」が「抜け目なく頭が切れる」へ変化しました。関連語は shrew, shrewish。
Shrewdness is built from shrewd and the noun suffix -ness. Shrewd comes from shrew, which in Middle English meant a bad, troublesome, or sharp-tongued person. Over time, the sense moved from "wicked" or "harsh" to "clever in a sharp practical way," and related words include shrew and shrewish.
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