How to say "fresh" in Japanese

• 新しいあたらしいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'fresh' in the figurative sense of novel — a fresh idea, a fresh approach, a fresh perspective. It is the basic word for 'new', not the word for fresh food or air.
  あなたの新あたらしい車くるまは調子ちょうしよく動うごいていますか。↗

  Is your new car behaving well?
• 新鮮しんせんJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjectiveThis is the word for literal freshness — fresh food, fresh air, fresh information. If 'fresh' means not stale or wilted, this is the one you want.
  どうやって新鮮しんせんな魚さかなをえらぶのですか。↗

  How can I pick out fresh fish?
• 新たあらたJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers 'fresh' as in a fresh start, fresh challenge, or fresh phase — something newly begun or newly arising. It is about newness of an undertaking or situation, not freshness of food or air.
  彼女かのじょは記憶きおくを新あらたにするためにその写真しゃしんを見みた。↗

  She looked at the picture to refresh her memory.
• 新規しんきCommon
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveIt is really 'new' in the sense of newly opened or created — a fresh application, a fresh account, a fresh contract — so it is seldom the word you want for fresh food or air.
  新規しんき開店かいてんした宝石ほうせき店てんは私の御得意おとくい様さまを奪うばった。↗

  The newly-opened jewelry shop took away some of my best customers.
• 爽やかさわやかJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers 'fresh' as in fresh air or a fresh morning breeze — the refreshing, invigorating sense. It describes a pleasantly crisp, clean quality of air, weather, or a person's manner, not freshness of food.
  オレンジジュースを飲のんだら気分きぶんがさわやかになった。↗

  A glass of orange juice refreshed me.

Use 新鮮 for literal freshness of food, air, or information; 「爽やか」 for the refreshing crispness of air or weather; 「新しい」 and 「新た」 for fresh ideas, starts, and challenges; 新規 only for things newly opened or created.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 新しいあたらしいnew
• 新鮮しんせんfresh
• 新たあらたnew
• 新規しんきnew
• 爽やかさわやかfresh
• フレッシュfresh
• 生鮮せいせんfresh
• 生々しいなまなましいvivid (memory, description, etc.)
• 清新せいしんfresh
• 生なまraw
• 鮮やかあざやかvivid
• 清々しいすがすがしいrefreshing (e.g. feeling, scene, wind, morning air)
• 初々しいういういしい(young and) innocent
• できたてjust made
• 活きがいいいきがいいfresh (e.g. fish)
• 活きのいいいきのいいfresh (e.g. fish)
• まっさらbrand new
• ほやほやhot (e.g. from the oven)
• さやかclear
• 事新しいことあたらしいunprecedented
• みるいyoung
• 取れたてとれたてjust-harvested
• 生々せいせいlively
• とっぽいcocky
• 取り立てとりたてfresh
• 旬しゅんin vogue