The Japanese word いい is an i-adjective, primarily translating to "good" in English. However, depending on the context, it can convey different meanings and have different uses.
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The Meaning of いい in Japanese
In this article, we’ll look at a few different usages for いい.
- Good: The most common use of いい is to express the quality of being good or fine. For example, in the sentence これはいい本です, it means "This is a good book".
- Envious praise: While maintaining the meaning of “good,” here いい is used when praising others or expressing mild envy. It is often followed by ね or なあ. For example, 彼女の服、いいなあ “Her clothes (are so nice). I’m envious.”
- Okay/Permitted: It can also express permission or acceptance.それはいいですか "Is that okay?"
- Better: When used in the past tense, it can mean "better". The past tense form is よかった. That may seem like a radical change from the humble いい, but it is incredibly useful and good to learn. For example, よかったね "I’m glad to hear that".
- Enough/Sufficient: It can also imply adequacy and be used for refusing something. これでいい "That’s enough" or "This will do".
- Get someone’s attention: いい is also often used to get the listener’s attention or to make sure the listener is focused before saying something important. This is pronounced with a rising tone and often followed by か or ね. For example, いいか、よく見ててね “Listen up. Watch closely now.”
As you can see a single word like "いい" can have many different implications depending on how and where it's used.
Example Sentences using いい
Now, let’s go through a few example sentences. When learning a new grammar point or a word with multiple shades of meanings, examining, repeating, and memorizing example sentences or phrases can be an effective strategy to solidify our understanding.
1) Good
その映画はいい映画だった。
That was a good movie.
いい天気だね。
It's good weather, isn't it?
2) Envious praise
あの人、英語がペラペラ。いいなあ。
That person is fluent in English. I'm envious.
あの子の服、いいなあ。
Her clothes, they're so nice. I'm envious.
3) Okay/Permitted
出かけてもいい?
Is it okay if I go?
このパン、食べてもいいですか？
May I eat this bread?
4) Better
風邪がなおってよかったね。
I’m glad you got over your sickness.
家で勉強した方がよかった。
It would have been better to study at home.
5) Enough/Sufficient
もういいよ。
That's enough.
これでいいの?
Is this enough?
6) Get someone’s attention
いいか、よく見てろよ。
Understand? Watch closely.
いいですか。今から行きましょう。
Listen up. Let’s go now.
Other Common Expressions Using いい
いいから
There is also the expression いいから which is used to brush off any potential objections and to insist on the command that follows.
いいから、早く行きなさい。
“Never mind, just go quickly." or "Just go, don't argue.”
いい加減
This can mean several things from “that’s reasonable” to “enough, cut it out!” We have a longer article just on this useful but confusing phrase. Click here for that.
いい感じ
This translates to "good feeling" or "good vibe". It's often used to express that something is going well or feels right.
この曲、いい感じだね。
This song has a good vide, doesn’t it?
いい天気
This simply means "good weather". It can be used as a conversation starter or to express pleasure at nice weather.
今日はいい天気ですね。
Today has nice weather, don’t you think?
Makoto+ Members, click here to download all the sound files, a PDF, and an Anki flashcard deck just for this lesson. Practice makes perfect!
Great summary. If I could have got this decades ago!
Sorry for being slow 🙂 Thank you so much!
Very good lesson….. …………………. Thanks……………
Thank you! Glad it helped.