本当に可愛いね
hontō ni kawaii ne
In Japanese, "you're really cute" is expressed as 本当に可愛いね (hontō ni kawaii ne).
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that they are very attractive or endearing. In Japanese, the subject "you" is often omitted when it is clear from the context who is being spoken to.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built using 本当に, which literally means "really" or "truly".
How do you pronounce it?
hontō ni kawaii ne
Did you know?
- The term 可愛い was originally written with characters meaning 'lovable' and 'pitiful' or 'pathetic'.
- In Japanese, the word 可愛い is often used to describe a mistake or a clumsy action as 'cute' to soften the blow and make the error seem harmless.
- In certain subcultures like 'kawaii culture', the adjective 可愛い has been expanded to describe an entire aesthetic of brightly colored, hyper-feminine, and even slightly strange or 'creepy-cute' styles.
Examples in context
- 君って、本当に可愛いね。You're really cute.The sentence is useful for expressing that someone is really cute using the form 本当に可愛いね.Tatoeba #8907383 by small_snow, translation #2713697 by CK
- その服、本当に可愛いね。Sono fuku, hontou ni kawaii ne.That outfit is really cute.
- 赤ちゃん、本当に可愛いね。Akachan, hontou ni kawaii ne.The baby is really cute.
Example conversation
Kenta gives Hiyori a small handmade gift.
- 陽葵 Himariわあ、ありがとう！Wā, arigatō!Wow, thank you!
- 健太 Kenta喜んでくれて嬉しいよ。Yorokonde kurete ureshii yo.I'm glad you're happy.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵は本当に可愛いね。Hiyori wa hontō ni kawaii ne.Hiyori, you're really cute.
- 陽葵 Himariもう、急に何を言い出すの？Mō, kyū ni nani o iidasu no?Geez, where is this coming from all of a sudden?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
