How to Say ‘Pretty / beautiful’ in Japanese
きれい
kirei
[kirei]
💬 Usage Tip: きれい ends in い but isn't an い-adjective, so "not pretty" is きれいじゃない (kirei ja nai), not (kirekunai). It also means "clean": きれいな部屋 "a clean room".
🇯🇵 In Japan: Saying きれい directly about a stranger's appearance can come across as flirtatious. Complimenting an item or outfit feels safer.
Phrase Breakdown
きれい
kirei
[kirei]
beautiful
Means beautiful, clean, or pretty; often used for elegant plays in sports too.
すごくきれいなシュートだった。
It was a very beautiful shot.
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