Entry
すっかり
sukkari
Indicates that a state has changed 100% or that an action has been carried out with absolutely nothing left behind.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
すっかり is an adverb that emphasizes the absolute completeness of a transition. It often contrasts the current complete state with how things used to be, such as seasons fully changing, recovering completely from an illness, or forgetting something entirely without a trace of memory.
- Complete change of state
- Thorough action
Sense Map
State Transition
Describes physical, visual, or environmental changes that have transitioned to a completely new state.
すっかり春になる
Thorough Action
Describes cognitive or physical actions that are executed to the maximum limit, leaving no remainder.
すっかり忘れる
Usage Note
How to Use
すっかり + Verb (past tense)
Often paired with verbs in the past tense to signify that the transition or action is already finished completely.
すっかり + Adjective
Amplifies the state described by the adjective, meaning it has fully reached that condition.
すっかり + Noun + になる
Highlights a complete transition into a new season, identity, or phase.
How to Use
Common Phrases
すっかり忘れる
completely forget
すっかり良くなる
completely recover
すっかり変わる
completely change
すっかり疲れる
be completely exhausted
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Changing seasons | neutral | Highlights the unmistakable transition into a new season, leaving the previous season behind. |
| Making mistakes or forgetting | negative | Implies a complete lapse in memory or attention, sometimes used apologetically. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
さっぱり さっぱり / similar | Use to express feeling refreshed, or with a negative verb to mean not at all. | すっかり is used for 100% completion of an action or transition, not for pure negation or a clean physical feeling. | さっぱり分からない。 |
そっくり そっくり / contrast | Use when two things look exactly alike, or when moving an entire physical amount of something as-is. | すっかり does not mean physical resemblance or moving physical objects intact. | お金をそっくり渡す。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using すっかり with negative verbs to mean not at all.
To express not at all, you should use さっぱり (sappari) or 全く (mattaku) instead.
Using すっかり for countable quantities like eating all the food.
Use 全部 (zenbu) or すべて (subete) for physical amounts. すっかり is for states, degrees, and transitions.
Examples
Examples
約束をすっかり忘れていた。
やくそく を すっかり わすれて いた。
I completely forgot about the promise.
FigurativeDescribes the complete loss of memory.
風邪はもうすっかり良くなりました。
かぜ は もう すっかり よく なりました。
My cold is already completely better.
LiteralShows a hundred percent recovery of health.
もうすっかり秋ですね。
もう すっかり あき です ね。
It is already completely autumn, isn't it.
VisualExpresses a visible change in the atmosphere of the season.
一日中歩いて、すっかり疲れた。
いちにちじゅう あるいて、すっかり つかれた。
I walked all day and am completely exhausted.
LiteralEmphasizes the maximum level of fatigue.
古い家がすっかり新しくなった。
ふるい いえ が すっかり あたらしく なった。
The old house has become completely new.
VisualA clearly visible physical change.
Similar Words
すっぱり
suppari
'Suppari' describes an action performed decisively, cleanly, and completely, without any hesitation.
すっきり
sukkiri
Feeling refreshed, relieved, or appearing neat and clean without any lingering clutter.
さっぱり
sappari
Describes a clean and unburdened state, such as feeling refreshed, having a light taste, or completely lacking something when used with a negative verb. Similar in the concept of something being gone, but さっぱり is often used in negative sentences (not at all) or for feeling refreshed.
そっくり
sokkuri
Sokkuri means two things look strikingly similar or that something is kept or moved entirely without anything missing. Emphasizes the complete identity or similarity of an object, not the completion of a process.
Questions
Can I say すっかりわからない?
No, that is unnatural. For I do not understand at all, you should use さっぱりわからない.
What is the difference between すっかり and すべて?
すべて refers to all items in a set or physical quantity. すっかり refers to the entire degree of a change or abstract action.
Is すっかり casual or formal?
It is a neutral word used across both daily conversation and polite speech.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1006110
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- すたすた (sutasuta)
- Next entry
- すっきり (sukkiri)