いい考え
ii kangae
The English phrase "good idea" is translated into Japanese as いい考え (ii kangae).
The phrase is used to express agreement with a suggestion or to praise a clever plan. You can use it as a standalone exclamation in casual conversation by simply saying いい考え！ to mean "Good idea!"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective いい (ii), meaning "good" and the noun 考え (kangae), meaning "thought" or "idea".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, people often use ええ考えやな to mean "That's a good idea."
How does it change in a sentence?
To make a complete, assertive sentence in informal speech, you can add the copula だ to the end, resulting in いい考えだ. Adding ですね to the end of the phrase makes it polite and adds a nuance of seeking agreement or shared sentiment.
How do you pronounce it?
ii kangae
Did you know?
- In professional settings, using いい考え can actually sound condescending, as if you are a superior evaluating a subordinate's work. To be polite to a colleague or boss, it is better to use 素晴らしい提案です (subarashii teian desu), which means 'that is a wonderful proposal'.
- Responding to an idea with a deep nod and the phrase なるほど (naruhodo) often precedes いい考え, as acknowledging the logic is culturally prioritized over immediate praise.
- If you want to say someone has a 'clever' or 'sharp' idea, you might use the word 冴えている (saete iru). This describes a mind that is 'clear' or 'bright', much like a polished blade.
Examples in context
- いい考えだ。It's a good idea.This sentence is useful for stating that something is a good idea in a plain or informal way.Tatoeba #3366812 by arnab, translation #3334010 by CK
- いい考えだね。That's a good idea!This sentence is useful for expressing that something is a good idea in a casual way.Tatoeba #3877888 by tommy_san, translation #1568 by CK
- いい考えですね。That's a good idea.This sentence is useful for stating that something is a good idea in a polite way.Tatoeba #229362 by small_snow, translation #442130 by CK
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 蓮 Ren今日はピザを頼まない？Kyō wa piza o tanomanai?Why don't we order pizza today?
- 陽葵 Himariそれはいい考えだね！Sore wa ii kangae da ne!That's a good idea!
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、僕が電話するよ。Jaa, boku ga denwa suru yo.Okay, I'll make the call.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、蓮くん。Arigatō, Ren-kun.Thank you, Ren.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
