月が綺麗ですね
tsuki ga kirei desu ne
In Japanese, "the moon is beautiful, isn't it?" is translated as 月が綺麗ですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne).
While literally describing the appearance of the moon, this phrase is used as a poetic and indirect way to tell someone that you love them. Because of this heavy literary connotation, using the phrase in a casual setting is often perceived as an intentional, romantic gesture rather than a literal observation about the weather. The phrase contains the word tsuki (moon) and the word kirei (beautiful).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase begins with tsuki, which means "moon". It is followed by the adjective kirei, meaning "beautiful" and ends with desu ne, a combination where desu acts as a polite copula and the particle ne seeks agreement, similar to "isn't it?" in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending ですね (desu ne) functions as a polite copula followed by a particle used to seek agreement, similar to "isn't it?" in English.
How do you pronounce it?
tsuki ga kirei desu ne
Did you know?
- A traditional and poetic response to accept this confession is 死んでもいいわ, which literally means 'I could die happy'.
- If a person wants to reject the confession while maintaining the poetic tone, they might respond with 手が届かないからこそ、綺麗なのです, meaning 'it is beautiful precisely because it is out of reach'.
- The phrase is famously attributed to the novelist Natsume Sōseki, who supposedly suggested that Japanese people should not translate 'I love you' directly, but instead use this more subtle expression.
Examples in context
- この夜は、月がきれいですね。On this night, the moon is beautiful, isn't it?
- 月が綺麗ですね。Tsuki ga kirei desu ne.The moon is beautiful, isn't it?
- 今夜は月が綺麗ですね。Konya wa tsuki ga kirei desu ne.The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?
- ずっと、月が綺麗ですねと言いたかった。Zutto, tsuki ga kirei desu ne to iitakatta.I have always wanted to say, "the moon is beautiful, isn't it?"
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are walking home together at night.
- 陽葵 Himariあ、見て！月が綺麗ですね。A, mite! Tsuki ga kirei desu ne.Oh, look! The moon is beautiful, isn't it?
- 陽太 Yota本当だ。とても綺麗だね。Honto da. Totemo kirei da ne.You're right. It really is beautiful.
- 陽葵 Himari私にとって、一番綺麗です。Watashi ni totte, ichiban kirei desu.To me, it is the most beautiful.
- 陽太 Yota僕も、同じ気持ちだよ。Boku mo, onaji kimochi dayo.I feel the same way.
