- かわいい = cute, adorable, charming. Used for people, animals, things and even behaviour.
- かっこいい = cool, stylish, good-looking (often for men).
- きれい = pretty, beautiful, clean. うつくしい = beautiful (more formal).
- すてき = lovely, wonderful. A safe, warm compliment for almost anything.
かわいい: more than “cute”
- かわいい！kawaii!So cute!
- このねこ、かわいいですねkono neko, kawaii desu neThis cat is so cute.
- めっちゃかわいいmeccha kawaiiSuper cute (casual)
In Japan, kawaii describes anything lovable, charming or endearing: a baby, a small bag, a character mascot, a clumsy friend, even an elderly person’s sweet smile. It’s one of the most frequent compliments you’ll hear.
Cool and handsome
- かっこいいkakkoiicool, stylish, good-looking
- そのくつ、かっこいいですねsono kutsu, kakkoii desu neThose shoes are cool.
- イケメンikemenhandsome guy (casual)
Beautiful and pretty
- きれいkireipretty, beautiful / cleanA な-adjective: きれいなはな (a beautiful flower).
- うつくしいutsukushiibeautiful (refined, often written)
- すてきsutekilovely, wonderfulすてきなワンピースですね: What a lovely dress.
- おしゃれosharestylish, fashionable
Note that きれい looks like an い-adjective but isn’t. See our guide to Japanese adjectives for why.
Fun combinations
- キモかわいいkimokawaiicreepy-cuteSomething weird but endearing.
- ぶさかわいいbusakawaiiugly-cuteLike a squashed-face dog.
- おとなかわいいotona kawaiigrown-up cute, elegant-cute
Giving and receiving compliments
- すてきですねsuteki desu neThat’s lovely!
- にあっていますねniatte imasu neThat suits you.
- そんなことないですsonna koto nai desuOh no, not at all.Typical modest reply to a compliment.
- ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasuThank you.
The kawaii family of words
- かわいそうkawaisōpoor thing, pitifulLooks similar, very different meaning!
- かわいがるkawaigaruto treat with affection, to dote on
- かわいらしいkawairashiilovely, sweet (softer)
- かわいすぎるkawaisugirutoo cute!
Compliments for people
Compliments about appearance are common among friends in Japan, but some words suit some people better:
| Word | Typical use |
|---|---|
| かわいい | cute: often for women, children, pets, but also for endearing men |
| きれい | beautiful: often for women, scenery, objects |
| かっこいい | cool, handsome: often for men, but also stylish women or objects |
| すてき | lovely, wonderful: works for everyone and everything |
| やさしい | kind, gentle: a compliment on personality |
If you’re unsure, すてきですね is the safest choice.
Kawaii as a culture
Kawaii culture took off in the 1970s and 1980s with cute handwriting, characters and stationery, and later spread worldwide through fashion, games and mascots. Today almost every Japanese city, prefecture and company has a mascot character (ゆるキャラ, yuru-kyara), and even serious notices often feature a cute illustration.
A puppy:
A friend’s stylish new jacket:
A beautiful flower:
Frequently asked questions
What does kawaii mean?
かわいい (kawaii) means cute, adorable or charming. In Japan it's used for people, animals, objects and even behaviour.
How do you say beautiful in Japanese?
The most common word is きれい (kirei). うつくしい (utsukushii) is more refined, and すてき (suteki) means lovely or wonderful.
How do you say cool in Japanese?
Cool or stylish is かっこいい (kakkoii).
What is the difference between kawaii and kawaisou?
かわいい (kawaii) means cute. かわいそう (kawaisō) means pitiful or 'poor thing'. They look similar but have very different meanings.