Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 見事 | migoto | [mʲiɡo̞to̞] (narrow) [kẽ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑi] (narrow) |
| 素敵 | suteki na | [sɨ̥te̞kʲi] (narrow) |
見事 is an objective term used to describe things like a perfect performance, a beautiful view or a complete success, such as a splendid victory. In contrast, 素敵 is a subjective term used to describe people's fashion, ideas or personalities that one finds attractive or charming.
Which one should you use?
見事 is used to describe something that is magnificent, impressive or executed with great skill, often focusing on the quality of an achievement or a visual spectacle. 素敵 is used to express a subjective feeling of being charmed or impressed by something lovely, stylish or wonderful, often in social or aesthetic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the honorific prefix お to 見事 creates the phrase お見事, which is a common way to praise someone's skillful performance or a job well done. Because 素敵 is a na-adjective, it requires the particle な when modifying a noun or the copula だ or です when ending a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
migoto
Did you know?
Examples in context
- 素敵な考えね。That's a splendid idea.This sentence is useful for using 素敵 to describe an idea.Tatoeba #8510961 by small_snow, translation #42723 by CK
- お見事。Splendid.This sentence is useful for using 見事 to offer praise.
- お客さま、そちらのドレスはすとんとしたシルエットがとても上品で素敵なんです。Miss, that dress is splendid, it has a sheer silhouette and is very classy.This sentence is useful for using 素敵 to describe how something looks.Tatoeba #459043 by qahwa, translation #533237 by blay_paul
Example conversation
A visitor is admiring a perfectly manicured traditional Japanese garden.
- 陽葵 Himari見事な庭園ですね。Migoto na teien desu ne.It is a splendid garden, isn't it?
- 健太 Kentaはい、本当に見事です。Hai, hontou ni migoto desu.Yes, it truly is splendid.
- 陽葵 Himari手入れが行き届いていますね。Teire ga yukitodoi te imasu ne.It is very well-maintained.
- 健太 Kenta職人さんの技が見事ですね。Shokunin-san no waza ga migoto desu ne.The craftsman's skill is splendid.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “splendid” translations and entries 見事, 素敵, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 素敵, 見事, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
