How to say "smart" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- na-adjectiveCovers smart describing appearance: neat, stylish clothing or a trim figure. It does not mean intelligent; for a smart person or idea use 賢い.
- 賢いかしこいi-adjectiveCovers smart in the sense of clever or wise — a smart student, a smart choice. This is the only one of the five that refers to intelligence rather than appearance or style.
- 粋いきna-adjective, nounSmart as in chic and tasteful: dress, behavior or speech showing refined style. It praises a person's flair for doing things with taste, and has nothing to do with intelligence.
- na-adjectiveSmart in the fashionable sense: chic, elegant clothes or surroundings. Closest of these to English 'chic', it describes appearance and style, never intelligence.
- 小粋こいきna-adjective, nounSmart or chic in a light, modest way; a narrower word than 粋, suggesting stylishness on a small scale. It is not a word for intelligence.
Choose 「賢い」 for smart meaning intelligent, 「スマート」 for smart meaning neat and stylish in appearance, and 粋, 「シック」 or 小粋 for smart meaning chic and tasteful, with 「シック」 closest to English 'chic'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- スマートsmart (clothing, etc.)
- 賢いかしこいwise
- 粋いきchic
- シックchic
- 小粋こいきstylish
- 瀟洒しょうしゃstylish
- 利口りこうclever
- 機敏きびんquick
- 軽妙けいみょうlight and easy
- はしっこいsmart
- 味なあじなsmart
- うずくto throb (with pain)
- さといclever
- ハイカラstylish
- いなせgallant
- 利発りはつclever
- ヒリつくto hurt
- 気の利いたきのきいたsensible
- 食えないくえないshrewd
- 洒落たしゃれたstylish
- 小利口こりこうclever
- パリッとstylish
- 敏びんquick
- 如才ないじょさいないtactful
- 頭がいいあたまがいいbright
- 如才がないじょさいがないtactful
- しみるto sting (of a wound, sensitive area, etc.)
- 発明はつめいintelligent
- 乙おつstylish
- 粋すいchic
- 敏捷びんしょうquick (thinking)
- すばしっこいsharp
- 気の利くきのきくtasteful
- バリッとstylish
- 味あじsmart
See also
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