adjectival noun or quasi-adjective, takes genitive case の, noun

  1. moderate, reserved, conservative, humble, mild-mannered, self-effacing, unassuming, well-behaved, low-key, temperate, in small quantities.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
控えめ ひかえめ
 
控え目 ひかえめ
 
 
 
ひかえ目 ひかえめ
控目
控目 ひかえめ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

withdraw, draw in, hold back
ひか.える コウ (8th, N1)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
empty, sky, void
そら クウ す.く (1st, N4)
hole, aperture, slit
あな ケツ けな (6th, N1)
shaped crown, katakana u radical (no. 40)
ベン メン (Kentei 1)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
wa-shaped crown radical (no. 14)
ベキ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48)
コウ ク もく (2nd, N4)