カッコいい

• Reading: かっこいい
• Romaji: kakkoii
• Pronunciation: /kak.ko.iː/

Meaning

Cool; attractive; stylish — the go-to word for expressing admiration for someone or something's appearance or manner.

カッコいい (also written as 格好いい or かっこいい) is one of the most fundamental and widely used Japanese expressions. It can describe a person's looks, fashion, behaviour, skills, or even objects like cars and buildings. While it literally means 'good appearance,' its usage extends far beyond physical attractiveness to encompass anything that evokes admiration or coolness. It crossed from casual speech to mainstream in the 1980s.

Examples

1. あの人めっちゃカッコいいんだけど、誰？ That person is super cool — who are they?
2. その車カッコいいね、新しく買ったの？ That car is cool — did you just buy it?
3. カッコいいこと言ってるけど行動が伴ってないよね。 You're saying cool things, but your actions don't match your words.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, dating, fashion, entertainment, everyday life

Tone: admiring, enthusiastic, complimentary

Do Say

• カッコいい生き方してるよね、尊敬するわ。 (You live such a cool life — I really respect that.)
• その髪型カッコいいね、似合ってるよ。 (That hairstyle looks cool on you — it really suits you.)

Don't Say

• 女性に「カッコいい」は文脈次第 — 褒め言葉にもなるが「可愛くない」と受け取られることも (Calling a woman カッコいい depends on context — it can be a compliment but may be taken as 'not cute')

Common Mistakes

• Limiting カッコいい to physical appearance — it is used equally for behaviour, skills, objects, ideas, and lifestyles that inspire admiration

Origin & History

From 格好 (kakkō, appearance/form) + いい (ii, good). Originally standard Japanese meaning 'good-looking,' it became a cornerstone slang expression in the 1980s as youth culture adopted it as the primary word for 'cool.' Now fully mainstream across all generations.

Cultural Context

Era: 1980s mainstream adoption, now universal

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used absolutely everywhere in Japan. One of the first Japanese words many foreigners learn. The feminine counterpart is カワイイ (cute), though the gender associations of both terms are evolving.