利口
0%
Log in to evaluate your pronunciation.
No feedback yet. Please speak to see your results.
Base na-adjective form. Describes intelligence, cleverness, or brightness. Often used to compliment someone's smart behavior. Example: 『利口な子供』 (rikou na kodomo, 'clever child').
Theme
At a local café, User and their friend Ken are discussing their younger siblings' school performance and personality traits.
利口
りこう
clever / shrewd / bright
People & IdentityEmotions & Personality
Memory Hook
Think of a 'clever fox' — 'ri-kou' sounds like 'ree-coo' for a cunning animal. 『利口』 (rikou, 'clever') like a smart fox!
Cultural Note
In Japanese culture, 『利口』 (rikou, 'clever') is a positive trait often used to praise children or pets for being smart or quick-witted. It can imply practical intelligence or shrewdness in social situations.
Forms
Base: 利口Base na-adjective form. Describes intelligence, cleverness, or brightness. Often used to compliment someone's smart behavior. Example: 『利口な子供』 (rikou na kodomo, 'clever child').
Negative: 利口じゃないAdd 『じゃない』 (janai, 'not') after the base form → 『利口じゃない』 (rikou janai, 'not clever'). Casual negative form.
Past: 利口だったAdd 『だった』 (datta, past) after the base form → 『利口だった』 (rikou datta, 'was clever').
Adverbial: 利口にAdd 『に』 (ni, adverbial) after the base form → 『利口に』 (rikou ni, 'cleverly'). Used to modify verbs.
Comparative: より利口Comparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective → 『より利口』 (yori rikou, 'more clever').
Superlative: 一番利口Superlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'most') + base adjective → 『一番利口』 (ichiban rikou, 'the most clever').