Japanese Dictionary

Meaning of 冴える(さえる) in Japanese

冴える, 冱える
JLPT 1
Kana Reading
さえる
Romaji
saeru
Word Senses
  • Parts of speech
    Ichidan verb, intransitive verb
    Meaning
    to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.); to be bright; to be vivid; to be crisp
    Example sentence
    昨日ゆっくり休んだ分、今日は頭が冴えている。 I feel smart today, to a degree that is in proportion to the amount of good rest I had yesterday.
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to be clear-headed; to be alert; to be on the ball; to be wide awake
    Example sentence
    話が進むにつれ彼の弁舌はますますさえた。 His speech had more and more power as it went along.
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to look upbeat; to be perky; to be cheerful
    Example sentence
    満月が空にさえている。 A full moon is shining bright in the sky.
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to master (a skill); to excel at; to cleanly execute
    Example sentence
    彼女は頭のさえた人だ。 She is a clear-headed.
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to be satisfying
    Example sentence
    今日は頭がさえません。 My brain doesn't seem to be working well today.
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to become frigid; to become intensely cold
    Example sentence
    そのパフォーマンスは冴えないものでしたよ。 The performance was low-keyed.

Examples of 冴える, 冱える, さえる in a sentence

Verb Conjugations

Non-Past

Plain
冴える
Plain Polite
冴えます
Negative
冴えない
Negative Polite
冴えません

Past

Plain
冴えた
Plain Polite
冴えました
Negative
冴えなかった
Negative Polite
冴えませんでした

Te

Plain
冴えて
Plain Polite
冴えまして
Negative
--
Negative Polite
--

Passive

Plain
冴えられる
Plain Polite
冴えられます
Negative
冴えられない
Negative Polite
冴えられません
()

Kanji in this word

冴 JLPT 1

7 strokes

be clear, serene, cold, skilful

On'Yomi: ゴ, コ

Kun'Yomi: さ.える, こお.る, ひ.える

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冱

6 strokes

freeze, be cold, be clear, attain skill

On'Yomi: ゴ, コ

Kun'Yomi: さ.える, こお.る, ひ.える

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