Meaning and Usage
"勝手" (かって) primarily means "selfish," "arbitrary," or "without permission." It is often used to describe actions taken without consulting others or disregarding rules. It can also imply selfishness or inconsiderate behavior.
Common Contexts
You will frequently hear "勝手に" (かってに) meaning "without permission" or "arbitrarily." For example, "勝手に使う" means "to use something without asking." It is often used in everyday conversations to criticize or warn someone about acting on their own.
Collocations and Patterns
- 勝手に + verb: doing something without permission or arbitrarily.
- 勝手な + noun: selfish or inconsiderate + noun.
- 勝手を言う: to say selfish things.
Register and Nuance
"勝手" is informal to neutral in tone and can be used in both casual and polite contexts, but it often carries a mild reproach or criticism. It is not a formal word.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "勝手" with "台所" (だいどころ), which means "kitchen." Remember that "勝手" does not mean "kitchen" but relates to arbitrary or selfish behavior.