鋭い

• Reading: するどい
• Romaji: surudoi
• Kanji breakdown: 鋭 (ei/surud) — sharp, keen
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.ɾɯ.do.i/

Meaning

Sharp; keen; acute. Describes physical sharpness or perceptive intelligence.

An i-adjective conjugated by dropping い (鋭くない, 鋭かった). Used both literally (a sharp blade, pointed object) and figuratively (a sharp mind, keen observation, piercing gaze). The figurative uses are especially common — 鋭い質問 (a sharp question) is a frequent collocation.

Examples

1. このナイフはとても鋭い。 This knife is extremely sharp.
2. 彼女は鋭い質問をした。 She asked a sharp question.
3. 猫は鋭い目で獲物を見ていた。 The cat watched its prey with sharp eyes.

Usage Guide

Context: description, intellect, observation

Tone: vivid

Origin & History

From the kanji 鋭 (ei, sharp), which combines 金 (metal) and 兌 (exchange/joy). The metal radical points to bladed tools. The word has been used in Japanese since antiquity for both literal and figurative sharpness.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal