What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into kore (this), ii (good), desu (is) and ne (a particle seeking agreement).
Which one should you use?
While これいいですね seeks agreement, removing the final particle ne to form これいいです makes the statement a direct assertion. If you want to say something is "pretty good" or "quite good," you can use the informal phrase なかなかいい.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal setting, you can use これは良いです to mean "This is good" or これは素晴らしいです to mean "This is wonderful." To elevate the politeness even further, you can use これは よろしいですね, which means "this is quite good" or "this is acceptable." In informal situations, such as speaking with friends or family, you can use これはいい or これ いい ね, which translates to "this is good" or "this is nice."
How do you pronounce it?
kore ii desu ne
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, いい can be used to politely decline an offer. If someone asks if you want more tea, saying いいです with a certain inflection means 'no thank you' rather than 'this is good'.
- In very casual speech, the phrase これいい is often shortened further by dropping the kore entirely, leaving only いいね. This is the exact phrase used for the 'Like' button on Facebook in Japan.
- In Japanese, expressing that something is 'good' using ii can sometimes sound slightly blunt or even condescending if used toward a superior, as it implies you are judging the quality of their work.
Examples in context
- このレストランの料理は素晴らしいです。The food at this restaurant is wonderful.
- このケーキはとてもおいしいです。This cake is very delicious.
- この映画、面白かったよ！これはいい！This movie was interesting! This is good!
- このアルバム、なかなかいい曲がいっぱい入っています。This album has a lot of really good songs in it.
- これいいですね。Kore ii desu ne.This is good, isn't it.
- このデザイン、これいいですね。Kono dezain, kore ii desu ne.This design, it's good.
- これいいですね、色も綺麗です。Kore ii desu ne, iro mo kirei desu.This is good, the color is also beautiful.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are looking at a new piece of furniture in a shop.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さん、これいいですね。Yota-san, kore ii desu ne.Yota, this is good.
- 陽太 Yota本当ですね。とてもおしゃれです。Hontou desu ne. Totemo oshare desu.You're right. It's very stylish.
- 美咲 Misaki部屋に合うと思います。Heya ni au to omoimasu.I think it will suit the room.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さんの言う通りですね。Misaki-san no iu toori desu ne.It's just as you say, Misaki.
