おしゃれ
Meaning: Fashionable, trendy, or stylish — used for people, places, or things with a polished aesthetic.
おしゃれ covers a broad spectrum of stylishness — from personal fashion to cafe interiors to city neighbourhoods. It implies a curated, intentional aesthetic rather than accidental beauty. Unlike イケてる (which is more about 'coolness'), おしゃれ specifically emphasises refined taste and attention to presentation. It is one of the most frequently used compliments for taste and style in everyday Japanese.
Examples
- この街おしゃれなカフェ多くていいよね。 这条街好多有格调的咖啡店,真不错。Este barrio tiene muchas cafeterías con estilo, ¿verdad?이 동네 오샤레한 카페 많아서 좋지.
- いつもおしゃれだね、ファッション雑誌読んでるの? 你总是那么时尚,平时看时尚杂志吗?Siempre vas tan estiloso, ¿lees revistas de moda?항상 오샤레하다, 패션 잡지 읽어?
- おしゃれな居酒屋見つけたから今度行こう。 发现一家很有格调的居酒屋,下次一起去。He encontrado un izakaya con mucho estilo, vamos un día.오샤레한 이자카야 찾았으니까 다음에 가자.
Pronunciation
/o.ɕa.ɾe/
Usage Guide
Context: fashion, food, interior design, compliments, lifestyle
Tone: approving, appreciative, lifestyle-oriented
✓ Do Say
- おしゃれなバー知ってる?今度行きたい (Do you know a stylish bar? I want to go sometime)你知道什么有格调的酒吧吗?下次想去(想找有品味的店)¿Conoces algún bar con estilo? Me gustaría ir algún día.오샤레한 바 알아? 다음에 가고 싶어 (세련된 바 알아? 다음에 가고 싶은데)
- 今日の靴おしゃれだね (Your shoes today are so stylish)你今天的鞋子好时尚Tus zapatos de hoy son muy estilosos.오늘 신발 오샤레하다 (오늘 신발 진짜 세련됐다)
✗ Don't Say
- 質素な人に「おしゃれじゃないね」は失礼 (Telling someone dressed simply 'oshare janai ne' is rude)对穿着朴素的人说「おしゃれじゃないね」(不时尚)很失礼Decirle a alguien que viste sencillo 'oshare janai ne' es una grosería.소박한 사람에게 'おしゃれじゃないね'라고 하면 실례이다 (심플하게 입은 사람에게 '오샤레 아니네'라고 하면 무례하다)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing おしゃれ with 可愛い — おしゃれ is about refined style, 可愛い is about cuteness/charm
- Not knowing おしゃれ can be a noun, adjective, or verb (おしゃれする = to dress up)
Origin & History
From お洒落 (oshare), combining the honorific お with 洒落 (sareru/shareru, to be witty/stylish). Has been used to mean 'fashionable' since at least the Edo period.
Cultural Context
Era: Centuries old (Edo period origins), continuously used
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Central to Japanese consumer culture — おしゃれ is a key selling point for cafes, restaurants, shops, and neighbourhoods. Tokyo's Daikanyama, Nakameguro, and Shimokitazawa are often described as おしゃれ areas.
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