Translation and Meaning of: 良い - ii

If you have already started studying Japanese, you have certainly come across the word 良い (いい), which means "good" or "nice." But do you know where it came from, how the kanji was created, or why the Japanese use this expression so much in daily life? In this article, we will explore the etymology, everyday usage, and even tips to memorize this essential term. Furthermore, you will discover how Suki Nihongo can help you with ready-made phrases to include in Anki and boost your studies.

The interesting thing about いい is that it goes far beyond a simple adjective. It appears in colloquial expressions, greetings, and even in situations where a "yes" or "no" could be replaced by it. Want to understand why the Japanese say "ii desu" when they don't want something? Or how to differentiate the tone of approval from a simple "that's fine"? Let's unravel all of this.

The origin and writing of 良い

The kanji 良 has a fascinating visual history. Its ancient pictogram represented a bowl of food with something delicious inside - hence the meaning of "good". The radical on the left (艮) originally symbolized "stop", while the one on the right (丶) was a point marking something of quality. Over time, the writing simplified, but it retained this idea of excellence.

Interestingly, although the kanji exists, Japanese people often write only いい in hiragana in everyday situations. This happens especially when the word appears alone or in short responses. In formal texts or when combined like 良かった (yokatta - "that's good"), the kanji makes a strong comeback. This duality between formal and casual is part of the charm of this versatile little word.

Everyday use and cultural nuances

In practice, いい functions like a wildcard in conversations. An enthusiastic "ii ne!" can show admiration for something, while a softer "ii yo" conveys permission. But be careful with the context! An "ii desu" said with hesitation and a downward glance usually means "no, thank you" - the Japanese avoid direct negatives and use いい as a polite smoke screen.

In stores, you will hear "ii desu ka?" when the seller wants to know if you need help. Among friends, "ii kanji!" describes something with a good vibe. It even appears in complaints: "mou ii!" (that's enough!) shows exasperation. This adaptability makes いい one of the first words that foreigners learn - and one of the last that they completely master, precisely because of its subtleties.

Tips for memorizing and not forgetting

To fix いい in memory, associate the sound with the expression "iiih, how cool!". The kanji 良 also appears in other positive words such as 良質 (ryoushitsu - good quality) and 良品 (ryouhin - good product). Creating flashcards with images of situations where you would use "ii" (like complimenting food or agreeing with someone) helps to memorize the meaning contextually.

One foolproof technique is to pay attention to dialogues in doramas or animes. When you hear "sou desu ka? ii desu ne!", mentally note the context. Soon you'll notice patterns - like the rising tone for questions ("ii?") versus the falling tone for statements ("ii."). And when you're in Japan, try using "ii" instead of our "okay" - the locals will appreciate your effort!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

優れた (Sugureta) - Excellent, highlighted
良好な (Ryōkōna) - Good, in good condition
素晴らしい (Subarashii) - Wonderful, magnificent
好ましい (Konamashii) - Preferable, desirable
上等な (Jōtōna) - High quality, superior
すばらしい (Subarashii) - Wonderful, magnificent

Related words

ハンサム

hansamu

beautiful

粋

iki

chic; style; purity; essence

泡

awa

bubble; foam; foam; head in beer

良好

ryoukou

favorable; satisfactory

立派

ripa

splendid; thin; beautiful; elegant; imposing; prominent; Cool; lawful

宜しい

yoroshii

good; ok; all right; all good; very well; will do; can; can

好い

yoi

good

陽気

youki

station; climate; happiness

身

body; main part; To yourself; sword

肌

hada

skin; body; grain; texture; disposition

良い

Romaji: ii
Kana: いい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n3, jlpt-n1, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: good

Meaning in English: good

Definition: excellent, excellent.

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How to Write in Japanese - (良い) ii

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (良い) ii:

Example Sentences - (良い) ii

See below some example sentences:

朝早く起きるのは健康に良いです。

Asa hayaku okiru no wa kenkou ni yoi desu

Waking up early in the morning is good for health.

Waking up early in the morning is good for your health.

朝早く起きるのは - "Getting up early in the morning is"
健康に - "for health"
良いです - "good"

体育は健康に良いです。

Taiiku wa kenkou ni yoi desu

Physical education is good for health.

Physical education is good for your health.

体育 - sport
は - Topic particle
健康 - health
に - particle indicating the target of the action
良い - good
です - Verb to be/estar in the present

乳は健康に良い食べ物です。

Nyuu wa kenkou ni yoi tabemono desu

Milk is a healthy food.

Milk is a good health food.

乳 (nyuu) - milk
は (wa) - Topic particle
健康 (kenkou) - health
に (ni) - target particle
良い (yoi) - good
食べ物 (tabemono) - food
です (desu) - verb to be"

このレストランの評判はとても良いです。

Kono resutoran no hyouban wa totemo ii desu

The reputation of this restaurant is very good.

この - indicates proximity, in this case, "this"
レストラン - restaurant
の - particle of possession, in this case, "of"
評判 - Reputação, fama
は - topic particle, in this case "about"
とても - very
良い - good
です - verb to be, in this case, "is"

この花の匂いはとても良いです。

Kono hana no nioi wa totemo ii desu

The smell of this flower is very good.

この - indicates proximity, in this case, "this"
花 - It means "flower"
の - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "da"
匂い - means "smell"
は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
とても - adverb meaning "very"
良い - adjective meaning "good"
です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

この街の治安はとても良いです。

Kono machi no chian wa totemo yoi desu

The security in this city is very good.

The safety of this city is very good.

この - this
街 - city
の - of
治安 - security
は - is
とても - very
良い - good
です - is (politeness)

このチャンネルは映像がクリアで音声も良いです。

Kono channeru wa eizō ga kuria de onsei mo yoi desu

This channel has a clear picture and good sound.

This channel has clear video and has a good voice.

この - this
チャンネル - channel
は - is
映像 - image
が - (subject particle)
クリア - clear
で - (connection particle)
音声 - sound
も - also
良い - good
です - is (polite form of "to be")

この花はとても良い香りが匂う。

Kono hana wa totemo yoi kaori ga niou

This flower has a very pleasant smell.

This flower smells very well.

この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
花 - noun meaning "flower"
は - topic particle indicating the subject of the sentence, in this case "this flower"
とても - adverb meaning "very"
良い - adjective meaning "good"
香り - noun meaning "fragrance" or "smell"
が - subject particle indicating the subject of the sentence, in this case "the smell"
匂う - verb meaning "to smell"