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素敵 is often described as a feminine word. Just how feminine is it? What would
be the impression of a male speaker using it, if he didn't already use
feminine speech?
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2015-08-05T22:20:51.390
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2020-02-06T18:34:07.157
2020-02-06T18:34:07.157
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question
words gender feminine-speech
Gendered usage of 素敵
Female speakers would certainly use 「素敵{すてき}」 more often than male speakers
would, but it is not a female-only word by any means.

I, an adult male last time I checked, use the word occasionally to describe
persons and objects. I used to use it much more frequently when I was in the
fashion retail industry where the vast majority of my customers were female. I
used the word to compliment on my customers' clothes, handbags, watches, etc.
as well as in describing my own merchandise.

I do not think, however, I use it nearly as often when speaking to another
male. It would probably be considered kinda gay if I used it equally as often
regardless of the listener's gender.

In retrospect, boys almost never used 「素敵」 to describe anything in elementary,
junior high and high school while girls surely did. So, within those age
groups, it was indeed a feminine word in my own experience. I vaguely remember
that I gradually started hearing guys use the word after starting college, but
the usage was still fairly limited.

Above is my own use of the word as an adult and how boys around me did not use
it when I was a kid. Naturally, I may or may not represent the male speakers
in general.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-08-06T01:31:07.403
26214
2020-02-04T16:56:35.390
2020-02-04T16:56:35.390
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answer