鋭い
surudoi[sɨɾɯ̟do̞i]
The English word 'sharp' can be translated into Japanese as 鋭い (surudoi). Wiktionary also lists 鋭利な (eiri na) and 犀利な (sairi na).
Meaning: able to cut easily (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 鋭い | surudoi | [sɨɾɯ̟do̞i] (narrow) |
| 鋭利な | eiri na | |
| 犀利な | sairi na |
It is used to describe physical sharpness, but it is also used metaphorically to describe senses (like smell or hearing) or intelligence (being quick-witted).
Which one should you use?
While 鋭い is a general adjective for sharpness, 鋭利な is a more formal, technical term specifically used to describe the sharpness of blades or cutting edges. For musical sharps or brand names, the katakana word シャープ is used instead of the kanji forms.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
鋭い is an i-adjective, meaning it can be conjugated into the past tense 鋭かった or the negative form 鋭くない.
How do you pronounce it?
surudoi
Did you know?
- The kanji 犀 in the rare form 犀利な actually refers to a rhinoceros, whose horn was historically prized for its perceived hardness and sharpness.
- Japanese has a specific term 切れ味 (kire-aji), meaning 'cutting taste', to describe the quality of how 'sharp' a blade feels during use.
- In Japanese, the word 鋭い is often used to describe a 'sharp' look in someone's eyes, which can imply a sense of suspicion, intensity or aggression rather than just a physical shape.
Examples in context
- お前、鋭いな。You're sharp.This sentence shows how to use 鋭い to describe a person's wit.Tatoeba #10151282 by bunbuku, translation #2203340 by CK
- 針のように鋭い。They are as sharp as needles.This sentence uses 鋭い to describe physical sharpness through a comparison to a needle.Tatoeba #13209216 by small_snow, translation #6310010 by Hybrid
- 犬はにおいの感覚が鋭い。A dog has a sharp sense of smell.This sentence demonstrates using 鋭い to describe a keen sense of smell.Tatoeba #175292 by bunbuku, translation #239174 by CK
- 彼は鋭い人です。He is a sharp person.
- そのナイフは鋭利です。That knife is sharp.
- 彼の頭はすごく鋭い。His mind is very sharp.
- このデザインは鋭い感じだ。This design has a sharp look.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Daigakuto are preparing vegetables in the kitchen.
- 結衣 Yuiこの包丁、すごく鋭いね。Kono hōchō, sugoku surudoi ne.This kitchen knife is very sharp, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、さっき研いだからね。Un, sakki toida kara ne.Yeah, because I just sharpened it.
- 結衣 Yui指を切らないように気をつけなきゃ。Yubi o kiranai yō ni ki o tsukenakya.I have to be careful not to cut my finger.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね。ゆっくり切ってね。Sō da ne. Yukkuri kitte ne.You're right. Please cut slowly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sharp” translations and entries 鋭い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
