In a group
Idioms, Stage 2chunk 19 of 21What people are like
What someone is like with other people: the loner, the generous one, the forgiving one, the fun one, the carer.
- ippiki ookamia loner who goes their own wayliterally “one (animal) wolf”
- kimae ga iigenerous (with money or treats)literally “one's spirit-quality is good”
- kokoro ga hiroitolerant, forgiving, lets things goliterally “the heart is wide”
- nori ga iigame for anything, fun to be aroundliterally “the going-along is good”
- mendoumi ga iicaring, good at looking after peopleliterally “the looking-after is good”
Mix-ups kimae ga ii (open-handed with money) and kokoro ga hiroi (forgiving) both translate as 'generous'. kimae, nori and mendoumi all take ga ii.
ippiki ookami
polite ippiki ookami desu
“one (animal) wolf”
a loner who goes their own way
In English: a lone wolf
About a coworker or classmate who works alone and keeps out of groups, said neutrally or with a little admiration: kare wa ippiki ookami da kara. Often softened with tte kanji (kind of a lone wolf). Also said of yourself, usually half-joking: watashi, ippiki ookami taipu da kara.
Plain way: hitori de iru no ga suki (likes being on their own).
kare tte, ippiki ookami tte kanji da yo ne.
He's kind of a lone wolf, isn't he?
彼って、一匹狼って感じだよね。
kare wa ippiki ookami tte kanji desu yo ne.
He's a bit of a lone wolf, isn't he?
彼は一匹狼って感じですよね。
Written 一匹狼 · いっぴきおおかみHeard 68× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list tte kanji (Stage 1), hitori de (Stage 3)
kimae ga ii
polite kimae ga ii desu
“one's spirit-quality is good”
generous (with money or treats)
Said when someone pays for everyone, tips big or hands out treats: kimae ii ne! or, as an adverb, kimae yoku ogotte kureta (treated us generously). It's about money and gifts (a kind person is yasashii), and politely it's said about a third party, not to a senior who is treating you.
Opposite single word: kechi (stingy); casual: futoppara (open-handed).
kyou wa ogori? kimae ii ne!
Your treat today? That's generous!
今日はおごり？気前いいね！
buchou tte, kimae ga ii desu yo ne.
The boss is really generous, isn't he?
部長って、気前がいいですよね。
Written 気前がいい · きまえがいいHeard 51× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kokoro ga hiroiMain list ii (Stage 1)
kokoro ga hiroi
polite kokoro ga hiroi desu
“the heart is wide”
tolerant, forgiving, lets things go
Praise for someone who forgives mistakes or lets things go, like a partner who laughs off a forgotten anniversary: kokoro hiroi ne. Also said of yourself, half joking, when letting something slide: ore wa kokoro ga hiroi kara. The opposite kokoro ga semai (petty) is a common jab.
Opposite: kokoro ga semai (petty, narrow-minded).
sore de yurushita no? kokoro hiroi ne.
And you forgave him? You're so big-hearted.
それで許したの？心広いね。
sore de yurushita n desu ka? kokoro ga hiroi desu ne.
And you forgave him? You're very forgiving.
それで許したんですか？心が広いですね。
Written 心が広い · こころがひろいHeard 26× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kimae ga iiMain list yasashii (Stage 3)
nori ga ii
polite nori ga ii desu
“the going-along is good”
game for anything, fun to be around
About a friend or coworker who joins in jokes, karaoke and last-minute plans: nori ii ne! The opposite nori ga warui (no fun, a wet blanket) is just as common; nori is the mood and rhythm of a group, written ノリ.
Opposite: nori ga warui (no fun); nori de = on a whim.
suzuki-san tte, nori ii yo ne.
Suzuki's always up for anything.
鈴木さんって、ノリいいよね。
suzuki-san tte, nori ga ii desu yo ne.
Suzuki's always a good sport, isn't she?
鈴木さんって、ノリがいいですよね。
Written ノリがいい · のりがいいHeard 5× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list ii (Stage 1), warui (Stage 1)
mendoumi ga ii
polite mendoumi ga ii desu
“the looking-after is good”
caring, good at looking after people
Top praise for a senpai, boss, older sibling or teacher who takes care of juniors and newcomers: senpai, mendoumi ii yo ne. It names the trait; looking after someone in the moment is mendou o miru.
The act itself: mendou o miru (look after someone).
tanaka-senpai, honto mendoumi ii yo ne.
Tanaka's such a caring senpai.
田中先輩、ほんと面倒見いいよね。
tanaka-senpai wa hontou ni mendoumi ga ii desu yo ne.
Tanaka really looks after us, doesn't she?
田中先輩は本当に面倒見がいいですよね。
Written 面倒見がいい · めんどうみがいいHeard 4× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside sewa ga yakeruMain list ii (Stage 1), miru (Stage 2)