超かっこいい
chō kakkoii
The English phrase "very cool" is translated into Japanese as 超かっこいい, known as chō kakkoii.
It is a popular expression among younger generations.
What does it mean word for word?
超 (chō) means 'super' or 'ultra', and かっこいい (kakkoii) means 'cool', 'good-looking' or 'handsome'.
Which one should you use?
While 超かっこいい means 'super cool', you may also encounter めっちゃかっこいい for casual conversations or めちゃくちゃカッコいい to convey that something is 'incredibly cool and awesome'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
超かっこいい is an informal expression. Using 超 as an intensifier is colloquial and common in casual speech among friends and youth. For formal situations, you should use とても素晴らしい to convey the meaning of 'very cool' or 'excellent'.
How do you pronounce it?
chō kakkoii
Did you know?
- The word めちゃくちゃ (mechakucha) originally meant 'absurd' or 'in a mess' before it evolved into a way to say 'incredibly'.
- The slang intensifier めっちゃ (meccha) used in phrases like めっちゃかっこいい originates from the Kansai dialect of Osaka and Kyoto.
- The word かっこいい is a contraction of 格好がいい, which literally means 'the shape or form is good'.
Examples in context
- この服、めっちゃかっこいい！This outfit is very cool!
- 彼の車は超かっこいいよ。His car is super cool.
- この曲、めちゃくちゃカッコいいな。This song is incredibly cool.
- あの俳優は超かっこいい。Ano haiyu wa chō kakkoii.That actor is very cool.
- 新しい車、超かっこいいね！Atarashii kuruma, chō kakkoii ne!The new car is very cool, isn't it!
- 彼のギターの弾き方は超かっこいい。Kare no gitā no hikikata wa chō kakkoii.The way he plays the guitar is very cool.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a magazine featuring a fashion model.
- 健太 Kentaこのモデル、超かっこいいと思わない？Kono moderu, chō kakkoii to omowanai?Don't you think this model is very cool?
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ、超かっこいい！Hontō da, chō kakkoii!You're right, he is very cool!
- 健太 Kenta美咲も、こういうスタイルが好き？Misaki mo, kōiu sutairu ga suki?Misaki, do you like this kind of style too?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、大好きだよ。Un, daisuki da yo.Yeah, I love it.
