“Energetic” in Japanese is 元気 (げんき), pronounced genki.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Healthy, energetic or well. お元気ですか asks how someone has been.
Example sentences
- 祖母は元気です。そぼはげんきです。My grandmother is well.
- 元気な子供ですね。げんきなこどもですね。What an energetic child.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 元気. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Before a noun | 元気な〜 げんきな〜 | energetic (thing) |
| Polite present | 元気です げんきです | is energetic |
| Negative | 元気じゃないです げんきじゃないです | isn’t energetic |
| Past | 元気でした げんきでした | was energetic |
| Past negative | 元気じゃなかったです げんきじゃなかったです | wasn’t energetic |
| Adverb (に) | 元気に げんきに | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say energetic in Japanese?
Energetic in Japanese is 元気 (げんき), pronounced “genki”.
How do you write energetic in Japanese?
It's written 元気 with kanji, or げんき in hiragana. Both are read genki.
Is 元気 on the JLPT?
Yes. 元気 (genki) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.