そのシャツいいね
sono shatsu ii ne
To say "I like your shirt" in Japanese, use そのシャツいいね (sono shatsu ii ne).
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that you find their shirt attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "That shirt is good, isn't it?"
Which one should you use?
You should use そのシャツ (that shirt) rather than このシャツ (this shirt) when complimenting someone else's clothing. In Japanese, その refers to an object near the listener, whereas この refers to something near the speaker.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the compliment more polite and suitable for strangers or superiors, you can use そのシャツ、素敵ですね (That shirt is lovely, isn't it?).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word その (sono) is used to refer to an object near the listener, which is why it is the appropriate choice for referring to the shirt the other person is wearing.
How do you pronounce it?
sono shatsu ii ne
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, a common response to a compliment like そのシャツいいね is to modestly deny it by saying いえいえ (ie ie) or 'no no'.
- The term いいね (ii ne) is also the Japanese equivalent of the 'Like' button on social media platforms. Using this phrase in person can feel meta-linguistically similar to clicking a digital icon.
- Complimenting a specific item like a shirt is often safer in Japanese social settings than complimenting a person's physical appearance directly.
Examples in context
- そのシャツがお洒落ですね。Your shirt looks stylish.
- おしゃれなシャツですね。It's a fashionable shirt.
- そのシャツ、カッコいいね。That shirt looks cool.
- そのシャツ、イケてるよ。That shirt looks awesome.
- そのシャツ、すてきですね。That shirt is lovely.
- そのシャツいいね。Sono shatsu ii ne.I like your shirt.
- あ、そのシャツいいね！A, sono shatsu ii ne!Oh, that shirt is nice!
- そのシャツいいね、どこで買ったの？Sono shatsu ii ne, doko de katta no?I like your shirt, where did you buy it?
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are meeting at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui陽太、そのシャツいいね。Yota, sono shatsu ii ne.Yota, I like your shirt.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとう。これ、お気に入りなんだ。Arigatou. Kore, oki ni iri nanda.Thanks. This is a favorite of mine.
- 結衣 Yui色がとてもよく似合ってるよ。Iro ga totemo yoku niatte ru yo.The color suits you very well.
- 陽太 Yotaそうかな？嬉しいよ。Sou kana? Ureshii yo.You think so? I'm happy to hear that.
