New, pretty, kind, skilled

Stage 3Versatile adjectivesChunk 12 of 32 · items 288–291 of 484

What you notice and praise about people and their things: new, pretty or clean, kind, good at something.

Mix-ups

kirei (pretty, clean; said kiree) is close by ear to kirai (hate, earlier block): per 11-list-adjectives keep kirei at least 12 items after kirai, and listen for the pitch, since KI-ree falls after the first beat while ki-RAI rises and stays up. kirei is beautiful or clean while kawaii (earlier block) is cute: a sunset is kirei, a puppy kawaii. yasashii here is only 'kind'; for 'easy' say kantan (earlier block).

atarashii

polite atarashii desudrama rank #301

new, fresh

新しい あたらしいPlay 新しいですPlay

Says something is new: things you've bought, a job, a shop, a phone, news; it goes straight before a noun (atarashii shigoto).

casualPlay

sono fuku, atarashii?

Is that outfit new?

その服、新しい？

politePlay

sono fuku, atarashii desu ka?

Is that outfit new?

その服、新しいですか？

Its opposite furui (old) means not new and never describes a person's age: furui tomodachi is a long-time friend. For age, say toshiue (older than me).

kirei

polite kirei desudrama rank #679

pretty, beautiful, clean

きれいPlay きれいですPlay

Says something looks lovely or is clean and tidy: views, places, people, rooms, handwriting; kirei ni makes it an adverb (kirei ni shite = tidy it up).

casualPlay

umi, kirei da ne

The sea is beautiful.

海、きれいだね

politePlay

umi ga kirei desu ne

The sea is beautiful.

海がきれいですね

Said kiree; a na-adjective despite the -i: kirei ja nai, kirei datta (never kireikunai).

Learn first: kirai

yasashii

polite yasashii desudrama rank #419

kind, gentle

優しい やさしいPlay 優しいですPlay

Describes a kind or gentle person or act; after arigatou, yasashii ne compliments someone for a kindness they just did.

casualPlay

arigatou, yasashii ne

Thanks, that's so kind of you.

ありがとう、優しいね

politePlay

arigatou gozaimasu, yasashii desu ne

Thank you, that's so kind of you.

ありがとうございます、優しいですね

A separate yasashii means 'easy'; use kantan for that and keep this card for 'kind'. yasashii desu ne suits peers and people you know well; to a stranger, boss or teacher who helps you, say arigatou gozaimasu, tasukarimashita instead.

jouzu

polite jouzu desudrama rank #1309

good at, skilled

上手 じょうずPlay 上手ですPlay

Compliments someone else's skill: X ga jouzu (you're good at X), or jouzu da ne after watching them; jouzu ni = well, skilfully. About yourself, use it only in the negative or as a goal (mada jouzu ja nai, jouzu ni naritai): claiming it sounds like boasting.

casualPlay

ryouri, jouzu da ne

You're a good cook.

料理、上手だね

politePlay

ryouri ga jouzu desu ne

You're a good cook.

料理が上手ですね

Reply to nihongo jouzu! with ie ie, mada mada desu (casual: iya, mada mada da yo); for your own strengths say tokui. To a boss or teacher, jouzu desu ne sounds like grading them: praise the result instead (sugoi desu ne).