センスがいい
sensu ga ii
In Japanese, "good taste" is expressed as センスがいい (sensu ga ii).
The phrase センスがいい is used broadly to describe someone's talent or intuition in various fields, such as fashion, art, interior design or even social timing. While this phrase refers to aesthetic or stylish taste, note that the informal term 美味い is used in casual conversation specifically to express that food tastes good.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the loanword センス (sense) and the adjective ii (good).
Which one should you use?
While センスがいい describes the quality of one's taste as being "good," you can also use センスがある to focus on the actual possession of the quality, meaning "to have sense" or "to have taste."
How does it change in a sentence?
To say someone has bad taste, you can replace the adjective ii (good) with warui (bad) to form センスが悪い. If you wish to make a polite observation or offer a compliment to a listener, you can add ですね to the end of the phrase to get センスがいいですね.
How do you pronounce it?
sensu ga ii
Did you know?
- The word センス is a 'wasei-eigo' word, meaning 'Japanese-made English'. While it sounds English, the specific usage and conceptual framing of センスがいい are uniquely Japanese cultural constructs.
- In Japanese, センス can refer to 'social sense' or the ability to read the room. This means センスがいい can describe someone who knows exactly when to speak or stay silent in a conversation.
- Because センス is a loanword, using it can sometimes feel more modern or Westernized than using traditional Japanese terms for beauty or refinement.
Examples in context
- この料理、うまいよね！This dish is delicious, right?
- あのラーメン屋さんのラーメンは美味いんだよ。The ramen at that ramen shop is really delicious.
- このビールは美味いな。This beer tastes amazing.
- 彼女は服のセンスがいいですね。Kanojo wa fuku no sensu ga ii desu ne.She has good taste in clothes.
- 彼はインテリアのセンスがいい。Kare wa interia no sensu ga ii.He has good taste in interior design.
- 君はセンスがいいね！Kimi wa sensu ga ii ne!You have good taste!
Example conversation
Yui and Daisho are looking at a room's decoration.
- 結衣 Yuiこの部屋、すごくおしゃれだね。Kono heya, sugoku oshare da ne.This room is very stylish.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう。結衣もセンスがいいね。Arigatō. Yui mo sensu ga ii ne.Thanks. You have good taste too, Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiどこでこの家具を買ったの？Doko de kono kagu o katta no?Where did you buy this furniture?
- 大翔 Hiroto近くの小さなお店で買ったよ。Chikaku no chiisana omise de katta yo.I bought it at a small shop nearby.
