Entry
生き生き
ikiiki
Describing someone or something that looks energetic, fresh, and full of vitality.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Used to express a radiant energy or life-like quality in people's expressions, work attitude, plants, or even works of art that look realistic.
- Human vitality and expressions.
- Freshness of living things or realism in art.
Sense Map
Human Vitality
Used for people who appear energetic, cheerful, and motivated while doing something.
生き生きと働く
Freshness and Realism
Used for fresh plants, active animals, or art that looks incredibly life-like.
生き生きとした緑
Usage Note
How to Use
生き生きする
生き生きとしている
Describes performing an action with great enthusiasm or energy.
生き生きとした
Used as an adjective to describe a person's expression or the state of something living.
生き生きと
Describes performing an action with great enthusiasm or energy.
How to Use
Common Phrases
生き生きと働く
To work with vitality
生き生きとした表情
A lively/vivid expression
生き生きとした緑
Vivid/fresh greenery
生き生きと描く
To depict something vividly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace | Positive/Professional | Suggests that employees are engaged and enthusiastic about their roles. |
| Art/Nature | Appreciative | A compliment for something that looks exceptionally fresh or realistic. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
はつらつ はつらつ / similar | Used for overflowing health and spirit, often associated with youth. | Iki-iki is broader and can apply to plants or art, while hatsuratsu is almost exclusively for human energy. | 元気はつらつな少年 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for noisy or crowded environments.
Use nigiyaka for a lively atmosphere in a crowd.
Using it to mean just 'healthy' in a medical sense.
Use genki for general health or well-being.
Examples
Examples
彼はテニスをしている時が一番いきいきしている。
かれはてにすをしているときがいちばんいきいきしている。
He looks most lively when he is playing tennis.
LiteralDescribes someone's vitality while engaging in a hobby.
雨が降った後、庭の草木がいきいきとしている。
あめがふったあと、にわのくさきがいきいきとしている。
After the rain, the plants in the garden look fresh and vibrant.
VisualUsed to describe the freshness of plants.
この絵の犬はいきいきと描かれている。
このえのいぬはいきいきとかかれている。
The dog in this painting is depicted very vividly.
VisualIndicates realism or a life-like quality in a work of art.
彼女はいきいきとした表情で将来の夢を語った。
かのじょはいきいきとしたひょうじょうでしょうらいのゆめをかたった。
She talked about her future dreams with a lively expression.
FigurativeDescribes the enthusiasm visible on the face.
新鮮な魚が水槽の中でいきいきと泳いでいる。
しんせんなさかながすいそうのなかでいきいきとおよいでいる。
Fresh fish are swimming energetically in the tank.
LiteralShows the agility and vitality of living creatures.
Similar Words
はつらつ
はつらつ
Used for overflowing health and spirit, often associated with youth. Iki-iki is broader and can apply to plants or art, while hatsuratsu is almost exclusively for human energy.
Questions
Can I use this for objects?
Yes, but only if they possess a life-like quality, such as a vivid painting or fresh plants.
What is the difference from Genki?
Genki refers to internal health or mood, whereas Iki-iki refers to the visible radiance of vitality.
Is it ever negative?
No, it is consistently used to praise vitality and freshness.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 906603110
- Source
- Internal
- Source URL
- j-nihongo.com/ikiiki/
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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