すごくいい
sugoku ii
In Japanese, "so good" can be expressed as すごくいい (sugoku ii).
The phrase is used to describe something of very high quality or that is very pleasing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb sugoku (very/extremely) and the adjective ii (good).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something "was" so good, the adjective ii changes to its past tense form yokatta, resulting in すごくよかった.
How do you pronounce it?
sugoku ii
Did you know?
- In modern youth slang, the phrase sugoku ii is sometimes replaced by yaba-i, which originally meant 'dangerous' but now means 'so good' or 'insane'.
- The word ii is so versatile that it can also be used to mean 'enough' or 'no more'. Depending on your tone, ii desu could mean 'it is good' or 'I am fine (no thank you)'.
- While sugoku means 'very', it comes from a verb meaning 'to exceed'. Using it to say something is 'so good' literally implies the quality has gone beyond the normal limit.
Examples in context
- そのレストランはとても良いです。That restaurant is so good.
- 彼の演技は非常に素晴らしいです。His performance is so good.
- その映画、すごいね！That movie is so good, isn't it?
- この映画、すごくいいよ。Kono eiga, sugoku ii yo.This movie is so good.
- 君のアイデアはすごくいい。Kimi no aidea wa sugoku ii.Your idea is so good.
- 天気がすごくいいですね。Tenki ga sugoku ii desu ne.The weather is so good, isn't it?
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are looking at a new painting.
- 陽太 Yota見て、この絵、すごくいいよ。Mite, kono e, sugoku ii yo.Look, this painting is so good.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だね。色がとてもきれい。Hontou da ne. Iro ga totemo kirei.You're right. The colors are very beautiful.
- 陽太 Yotaどこで買ったの？Doko de katta no?Where did you buy it?
- 美咲 Misaki近くの店で買ったよ。Chikaku no mise de katta yo.I bought it at a nearby shop.
