きれいな人
kirei na hito
The phrase 'someone is pretty' is translated into Japanese as きれいな人 (kirei na hito).
This phrase is used to describe a person who has an attractive or beautiful physical appearance. Note that while きれい (kirei) is frequently used to mean 'pretty' or 'beautiful' regarding appearance, it can also mean 'clean' or 'tidy' depending on the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective きれい (kirei), meaning beautiful or clean, the particle な (na) used to connect adjectives to nouns and 人 (hito), meaning person.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because きれい is a na-adjective, you must include な (na) when it directly modifies the noun 人 (hito).
How do you pronounce it?
kirei na hito
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese art, the concept of beauty often emphasizes 'imperfection' or 'transience', which contrasts with the modern, polished image associated with きれい (kirei).
- The word きれい (kirei) is frequently used to describe a 'clear' or 'pure' voice, moving the concept of beauty from the visual to the auditory.
- When writing the word きれい (kirei) in kanji, it is often written as 綺麗, though many Japanese people use the hiragana version in everyday text to look softer and more approachable.
Examples in context
- 彼女はとてもきれいな人です。Kanojo wa totemo kireina hito desu.She is a very beautiful person.
- あそこにきれいな人がいます。Asoko ni kireina hito ga imasu.There is a pretty person over there.
- モデルのようなきれいな人が多いですね。Moderu no youna kireina hito ga ooi desu ne.There are many beautiful people who look like models.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are walking through a crowded shopping district.
- 結衣 Yuiあそこにきれいな人がいますね。Asoko ni kireina hito ga imasu ne.There is a pretty person over there, isn't there?
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ。とてもきれいな人ですね。Hontou da. Totemo kireina hito desu ne.You're right. She is a very beautiful person.
- 結衣 Yuiモデルさんですかね？Moderu san desu ka ne?I wonder if she is a model?
- 大翔 Hirotoその可能性はありますね。Sono kanousei wa arimasu ne.That is a possibility.
