なかなかいい
nakanaka ii
The English phrase "pretty good" can be translated into Japanese as なかなかいい (nakanaka ii).
なかなかいい is used to describe something that is of a high quality or better than expected. It often conveys a sense of pleasant surprise that something meets or even exceeds a certain standard. For comparison, while とてもいい is used to express that something is "very good," なかなかいい carries the specific nuance of being "better than I thought it would be."
What does it mean word for word?
The adverb なかなか literally conveys the sense of something being "more than expected" or "quite" in a positive way.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, people often use the phrase 結構ええ to mean "pretty good."
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to modify a verb instead of a noun, なかなかいい changes to なかなかよく to function as an adverb, meaning "pretty well."
How do you pronounce it?
nakanaka ii
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using まあまあ if you want to say something is "pretty good," as まあまあ implies that something is only "so-so" or "okay."
Did you know?
- While なかなかいい is a compliment, using it with a superior or a boss can sometimes sound patronizing, as it implies you are evaluating them from a position of judgment.
- While なかなかいい is positive, using なかなか with a negative verb often means something is 'hard' or 'difficult' to achieve, such as なかなかできない for 'I just can't seem to do it'.
- The word 結構 in the Kansai phrase 結構ええ can also mean 'no thank you' when used to decline an offer, depending on the intonation.
Examples in context
- なかなかいいこと言うじゃない。That is a pretty good thing to say.This sentence shows how to use なかなかいい to compliment something someone said.Tatoeba #1181338 by bunbuku, translation #12481089 by Lumi
- トムは若い時、なかなかいい歌い手だったよ。Tom was a pretty good singer when he was younger.This sentence uses なかなかいい to describe a person's ability to sing in the past.Tatoeba #9540364 by small_snow, translation #6718055 by CK
- 彼の仕事はかなり良いです。His work is pretty good.
- この料理は結構良いですね。This dish is pretty good, isn't it?
- 今日はけっこう楽しかったよ！Today was pretty good/fun!
- この映画はまあまあ面白かった。This movie was pretty good, I guess.
- この店の味、結構ええで。The taste of this restaurant is pretty good, you know.
- このレストランの料理、なかなかいい。Kono resutoran no ryouri, nakanaka ii.The food at this restaurant is pretty good.
Example conversation
Two friends are trying out a new cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiこのカフェ、雰囲気がなかなかいいね。Kono kafe, fun'iki ga nakanaka ii ne.This cafe has a pretty good atmosphere, doesn't it?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、コーヒーもすごく美味しいよ。Un, koohii mo sugoku oishii yo.Yeah, and the coffee is really delicious too.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔君、また新しいお店を見つけたの？Hiroto-kun, mata atarashii omise o mitsuketa no?Hiroto, did you find another new shop?
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだよ、おすすめなんだ。Sou da yo, osusume nanda.That's right, I recommend it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
