ああ、かっこいい
aa, kakkoii
The English phrase "oh cool" can be translated into Japanese as ああ、かっこいい (aa, kakkoii).
The term かっこいい can be applied to inanimate objects, such as a car or to people, such as a handsome man. Another way to express "oh cool" is to use Sugoi na, which is an informal way to say "Oh cool".
What does it mean word for word?
The word かっこいい is a contraction of kakko ga ii, which literally means "good appearance".
Which one should you use?
Sugoi means 'amazing' or 'awesome,' and the particle na in Sugoi na adds a nuance of surprise or impression.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ああ、かっこいい is informal and should be used with friends or peers rather than superiors.
How do you pronounce it?
aa, kakkoii
Did you know?
- While かっこいい is often used for style, the word sugoi was originally used to describe something 'terrible' or 'frightening'. Over time, its meaning shifted to express an overwhelming sense of awe or scale.
- In very casual male speech, you might hear people shorten かっこいい to just かっけー (kakkee) to sound tougher or more effortless.
- To describe something 'uncool' or 'lame', Japanese speakers often use dasa-i. This is the direct cultural and linguistic opposite of kakkoii.
Examples in context
- ああ、かっこいいデザインだ。Aa, kakkoii dezain da.Oh, it's a cool design.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are looking at a new smartphone in a shop.
- 蓮 Renこのスマホ、見たことある？Kono sumaho, mita koto aru?Have you seen this smartphone?
- 美咲 Misakiああ、かっこいい！Aa, kakkoii!Oh, cool!
- 蓮 Ren色もすごく綺麗だよ。Iro mo sugoku kirei da yo.The color is also very beautiful.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に素敵だね。Hontou ni suteki da ne.It really is lovely.
