彼はかっこいい
kare wa kakkoii
The English phrase "he is hot" is translated into Japanese as 彼はかっこいい (kare wa kakkoii).
The word かっこいい is a versatile term used to describe someone or something as attractive, cool, handsome or stylish. It can also be applied to objects, such as a stylish car or a nice design.
Which one should you use?
While 彼はかっこいい is the standard way to say someone is attractive, you may encounter 彼はイケてる, which is a more colloquial and slangy way to express that someone is "hot" or "cool".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual settings, you can use 彼はかっこいい. To make the sentence polite and suitable for speaking to superiors or strangers, add desu to the end to form 彼はかっこいいです.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the adjective かっこいい into its negative form to say someone is "not attractive" or "not cool", change the final i to kunai, resulting in かっこよくない.
How do you pronounce it?
kare wa kakkoii
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might use 'hot' to describe a person's temperature, saying 彼は熱い (kare wa atsui) would mean 'he is physically burning to the touch' rather than being attractive.
- While かっこいい is common, the term イケメン is the specific noun used to describe a 'hot guy'. It is a portmanteau of イケてる meaning 'cool' and メン from the English word 'men'.
- The word かっこいい originates from 格好 meaning 'shape' or 'appearance' and いい meaning 'good'. It literally describes someone who has a 'good shape'.
Examples in context
- 彼は容姿が魅力的です。He has an appealing appearance
- 彼はイケメンです。Good-looking man
- 彼はスタイルがいいよ。He has a good style
- 彼はセクシーだね。He is sexy
- 彼はかっこいい。Kare wa kakkoii.He is hot.
- 新しいモデル、彼はかっこいいね。Atarashii moderu, kare wa kakkoii ne.The new model, he is hot, isn't he?
