Kawaii (かわいい): meaning beyond "cute"
かわいい
かわいい · kawaii
Kawaii covers more than "cute": someone can be sweet, charming or even endearingly pathetic. You can use it for people and animals, or for things such as clothes and mascots.
Word by word
| かわいい | かわいい | cute, lovable (an i-adjective, also written 可愛い) |
Similar-looking words
Despite the resemblance, かわいそう (kawaisou) has a different meaning: "poor thing" or "pitiful". かわいがる (kawaigaru) means "to dote on" or "to be fond of". And かわいくない can mean "you’re no fun" or "bratty", as well as "not cute".
Who says it in anime?
The word comes up constantly in slice-of-life shows. Adults often gush over kids, pets or friends; other characters insist they’re not cute.
More examples
- この猫、かわいい！ kono neko, kawaii! — This cat is so cute!
- かわいそうに… kawaisou ni... — You poor thing...
Hear it in real scenes
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