潔い|いさぎよいisagiyoi[4]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectivegracious (defeat, apology, etc.); graceful; honourable (e.g. death); noble; gallant; brave; manly; sportsmanlike
   出処しゅっしょ進退しんたいの潔いさぎよさをわきまえている、と彼かれは言いっているけれど、いざとなったらどうだかね。↗

   He always talks as though he knows how to handle himself but you never know how he'll act when the chips are down.
2. i-adjectiveupright; righteous; honest; pure (heart); innocent
3. i-adjectiveunspoiled (scenery, etc.); pure; clean

• Antonym未練がましいみれんがましいNeutralNeutral word for being unable to let go or accept defeat, clinging on when one should quit; the opposite of the clean-cut decisiveness of 「潔い」.
• Antonym姑息なWrittenWritten/formal word for short-sighted, makeshift or sneaky behaviour; contrasts with the open, upright spirit of 「潔い」.

Use 「潔い」 for admitting defeat or apologizing cleanly and gracefully, as in 「潔く負けを認める」; use 「未練がましい」 when someone cannot let go or accept a loss.

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

1. 風景ふうけいなどが清きよらかであるさま。
2. さっぱりとしていて小気味こきみ良よい。
3. 潔白けっぱくであるさま。