Entry
くっきり
kukkiri
Used when a shape, outline, or detail stands out sharply from what is around it.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
くっきり points to visual sharpness: a mountain ridge against a clear sky, bold handwriting, a photo in focus, or a memory that still feels vivid. The key is a clean edge, not just the idea of being clear. It is not the usual word for clear sound or clear understanding.
- Sharp outlines and shapes
- Writing, drawings, or photos that are not blurry
- Memories or impressions that still feel vivid
Sense Map
Shapes and outlines
Used when an object’s form is easy to separate from the background.
青空に山の稜線がくっきり見える。
Writing, drawings, and photos
Used for letters, lines, or pictures that look sharp, bold, and in focus.
文字をくっきり書く。
Usage Note
How to Use
くっきりする
Describes a state of looking sharp or standing out visually.
くっきりした + noun
Modifies a noun whose outline, features, or details are sharply defined.
くっきり（と） + verb
Adverbial use: something is seen, written, or remembered with a crisp edge.
How to Use
Common Phrases
くっきり見える
to be clearly visible, with a sharp outline
くっきりした輪郭
a sharply defined contour or outline
文字をくっきり書く
to write characters boldly so they are easy to read
記憶にくっきり残る
to stay vividly in memory
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Landscapes | neutral | Common for mountains, buildings, or a horizon that stands out against a clear sky. |
| Faces and handwriting | positive | Often praises well-defined facial features, or letters that look bold and easy to read. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
はっきり はっきり / similar | For clarity in a broad sense: sight, sound, meaning, or a definite stance. | くっきり stays with visual contrast and outlines; it does not cover sound or understanding. | 話をはっきり聞く。 |
きっぱり きっぱり / nearby | For a decisive attitude, such as refusing or deciding without hesitation. | くっきり is about how something looks; きっぱり is about how someone acts. | きっぱり断る。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using くっきり for sound, as in くっきり聞こえる.
For hearing something clearly, use はっきり聞こえる.
Using くっきり to say an idea is understood.
For clear understanding or explanation, use はっきり or よくわかる.
Examples
Examples
青空に山の稜線がくっきり見える。
あおぞらにやまのりょうせんがくっきりみえる。
The mountain ridge stands out sharply against the blue sky.
VisualThe contrast between the mountain and the sky makes the outline look crisp.
彼女はくっきりした目鼻立ちをしている。
かのじょはくっきりしためはなだちをしている。
She has well-defined facial features.
VisualPraises facial features that look sharp and easy to notice.
黒いペンで名前をくっきり書いた。
くろいペンでなまえをくっきりかいた。
The name stood out in sharp, bold lines from a black pen.
LiteralThe letters look bold and easy to read, not faint or blurry.
あの景色が今でも記憶にくっきり残っている。
あのけしきがいまでもきおくにくっきりのこっている。
That scenery is still vivid in memory.
FigurativeThe memory still feels vivid, as if the scene is in front of you.
ピントが合って、建物が写真にくっきり写った。
ピントがあって、たてものがしゃしんにくっきりうつった。
The focus was right, so the building came out sharply in the photo.
VisualVisual sharpness in a photo that is in focus.
Similar Words
はっきり
hakkiri
Describes a state where something is clear, distinct, and unmistakable to the senses or the mind. The general word for clarity. くっきり is more specific to visual contrast and outlines.
きっぱり
kippari
Doing something in a clean, firm, and unambiguous way without hesitation. Similar in sound, but きっぱり is a decisive attitude, not appearance.
Questions
How is くっきり different from はっきり?
はっきり is the general word for being clear: seen, heard, or understood. くっきり is narrower: a sharp shape, outline, or contrast.
Can くっきり describe someone’s personality?
No. It is for how something looks: facial features, writing, or scenery, not character.
Does くっきり sound casual or formal?
It is neutral. It fits everyday speech and more careful writing, as long as the topic is visual sharpness.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1003840
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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