いいね
ii ne
In Japanese, the phrase to say 'like it' is いいね (ii ne).
いいね is used as a reaction to show enthusiasm or approval toward a piece of news or a suggestion. On Japanese social media platforms, such as Facebook, いいね is also the standard term used for the 'Like' button.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase いいね, the particle ね at the end is used to seek agreement or to confirm a shared feeling with the person you are speaking to.
How do you pronounce it?
ii ne
Did you know?
- Depending on the intonation, いいね can be used sarcastically to mean 'how nice' or 'that is just great' when something bad happens.
- In professional settings, using いいね toward a superior can be seen as too casual or even condescending, as it implies you are judging their action as 'good'.
- The word いい (ii) used in this phrase is a contraction of the older, more formal adjective よい (yoi).
Examples in context
- それいいね。トムも気に入ると思うよ。I like it. I think Tom does, too.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use いいね when expressing that you think someone else will also like something.Tatoeba #10798017 by small_snow, translation #10587702 by shekitten
- このデザイン、いいね。Kono dezain, ii ne.This design is nice.
- 新しい靴、いいね！Atarashii kutsu, ii ne!Your new shoes are great!
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are looking at a photo of a cafe.
- 陽太 Yotaこのカフェの写真、いいね。Kono kafe no shashin, ii ne.This photo of the cafe is nice.
- 結衣 Yui本当だね。雰囲気がいいね。Hontou da ne. Fun'iki ga ii ne.It really is. The atmosphere is nice.
- 陽太 Yota今度一緒に行こうよ。Kondo issho ni ikou yo.Let's go there together sometime.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、ぜひ行きたい！Un, zehi ikitai!Yeah, I'd love to go!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
