Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 派手な | hade-na | |
| けばけばしい | kebakebashii | [ke̞ba̠ke̞ba̠ɕiː] (narrow) |
| あくどい | akudoi | [a̠kɯ̟do̞i] (narrow) |
These terms are used to describe things that are showy or ornamented.
Which one should you use?
派手な is the most neutral term for 'showy' and can be used as a compliment for something vibrant or a criticism for something too loud. In contrast, けばけばしい is specifically used for visual stimuli that are unpleasantly bright, loud or overwhelming to the senses. あくどい often implies a sense of being 'too much' or 'tacky' in a way that feels vulgar or lacks refinement, often applied to design or taste.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective 派手 is a na-adjective, so it uses the particle な when preceding a noun and changes to だ or です in its dictionary/predicative form. けばけばしい is an i-adjective, meaning it ends in い and conjugates like standard i-adjectives (e.g., けばけばしくない for 'not garish').
How do you pronounce it?
hade-na
Did you know?
- While 派手な can describe a person's fashion, the word あくどい can also describe a person's personality or a business deal. In these cases, it means 'shrewd', 'cunning' or 'ruthless' rather than 'showy'.
- The term けばけばしい uses a repetitive sound pattern called 'reduplication'. This linguistic tool is often used in Japanese to intensify a feeling, making the 'gaudiness' feel as though it is physically pulsing or attacking the eyes.
- In modern slang, the phrase 派手に 'hade-ni' is sometimes used as an adverb meaning 'spectacularly' or 'big time'. For example, someone might say they 'hade-ni' failed an exam, meaning they failed in a dramatic or embarrassing way.
Examples in context
- 彼女の派手な装飾品は目を奪います。Her gaudy accessories are eye-catching.
- 彼女は派手なドレスを着ています。Kanojo wa hadena doresu o kite imasu.She is wearing a gaudy dress.
- 派手な色の車が走っています。Hadena iro no kuruma ga hashitte imasu.A gaudy colored car is driving by.
- 彼は派手なネクタイをしていますね。Kare wa hadena nekutai o shite imasu ne.He is wearing a gaudy tie, isn't he?
Example conversation
陽葵 and 陽太 are looking at a fashion magazine in a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himariこのデザイン、ちょっと派手すぎませんか？Kono dezain, chotto hadesugimasen ka?Isn't this design a bit too gaudy?
- 陽太 Yota確かに、陽葵の言う通り派手な感じだね。Tashika ni, Himari no iu toori hadena kanji da ne.Certainly, it feels gaudy just as you say, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariもっと落ち着いた色が好みです。Motto ochitsuita iro ga konomi desu.I prefer more subdued colors.
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね、僕もそう思うよ。Sou da ne, boku mo sou omou yo.True, I think so too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gaudy” translations and entries けばけばしい, あくどい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
