How to say "clever" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 利口りこうna-adjective, nounClever or bright in the sense of quick intelligence, typically of children or animals. It carries a slightly simple, everyday nuance, so it is less natural for sophisticated adult intellect or clever ideas.
- 賢いかしこいi-adjectiveClever or smart in the sense of good judgment and intelligence, usually of people or their choices. It also shades toward 'wise', making it the safest general word for a clever person.
- 巧妙こうみょうna-adjective, nounClever in the sense of ingenious or skillfully contrived, describing plans, tricks, devices or deceptions rather than people. Use it when something has been worked out with ingenuity.
- i-adjectiveClever as in skillfully done or well handled, applied to expressions, tricks and other performances. Written in kana, it is the natural choice for praising how cleverly something was executed.
- 軽妙けいみょうna-adjective, nounClever in the sense of light, witty and deft, describing talk, writing or style rather than intellect or ingenuity. It suggests liveliness and wit, so it is not the word for clever people or clever solutions.
For people, choose 利口 or 「賢い」; for clever tricks, solutions or expressions choose 巧妙 or 「うまい」; 軽妙 fits clever, witty style, especially of talk or writing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 利口りこうclever
- 賢いかしこいwise
- 巧妙こうみょうingenious
- うまいskillful
- 軽妙けいみょうlight and easy
- 上手じょうずskillful
- 巧みたくみskillful
- 機敏きびんquick
- さといclever
- クレバーclever
- 利発りはつclever
- 怜悧れいりclever
- 小利口こりこうclever
- はしっこいsmart
- 気の利いたきのきいたsensible
- 味なあじなsmart
- 頭がいいあたまがいいbright
- 小器用こぎようskillful
- 敏びんquick
- 賢しいさかしいintelligent
- 如才ないじょさいないtactful
- 如才がないじょさいがないtactful
- スマートskilful
- 器用きようclever
- 発明はつめいintelligent
- 鋭敏えいびんsharp-witted
- まいゆskillful
- おぞいsly
- うめぇskillful
- 味あじsmart
See also
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