Kashikoi is the Japanese i-adjective for ‘smart’, explained

What does “kashikoi” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kashikoi” often to mean ‘smart’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this i-adjective as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “kashikoi” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “kashikoi”
  • Example #1: how to say “smart” in Japanese
• Kashikokunai: the nai form of “kashikoi”
  • Example #2: how to say “not smart” in Japanese
• Kashikokatta: the ta form of “kashikoi”
  • Example #3: how to say “was smart” in Japanese
• Kashikokute: the te form of “kashikoi”
  • Example #4: how to say “smart and” in Japanese
• Kashikokereba: the ba form of “kashikoi”
  • Example #5: how to say “if smart” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “kashikoi”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kashikoi”.

• kashikoi – 賢い (かしこい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective to describe someone who has intelligence often in a good way.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. The meanings seem to be based on the same concept. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “smart” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “kashikoi”. In the example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘smart’ in Japanese, this i-adjective is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kashikoi” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “kashikokunai”.

Kashikokunai: the nai form of “kashikoi”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kashikokunai”.

• kashikokunai – 賢くない (かしこくない) : the nai form of “kashikoi”, which means ‘not smart’, ‘not wise’, or ‘not clever’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kashikokunai” consists of the following two parts:

• kashikoku – 賢く (かしこく) : one conjugation of “kashikoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kashikokunai” is literally the nai form of “kashikoi” and means ‘not smart’, ‘not wise’, ‘not clever’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not smart” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kashikokunai”. When we want to say “not smart” in Japanese, this nai form is a very good option.

Kashikokatta: the ta form of “kashikoi”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kashikokatta”.

• kashikokatta – 賢かった (かしこかった) : the ta form of “kashikoi”, which means ‘was smart’, ‘was wise’, ‘was clever’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kashikokatta” consists of the following two parts:

• kashikokat – 賢かっ (かしこかっ) : one conjugation of “kashikoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kashikokatta” is literally the ta form of “kashikoi” and means ‘was smart’, ‘was wise’, ‘was clever’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was smart” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• mae – 前 (まえ) : a noun meaning ‘front’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to mean ‘before’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kashikokatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kashikoi”, this ta form is the best option.

Kashikokute: the te form of “kashikoi”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kashikokute”.

• kashikokute – 賢くて (かしこくて) : the te form of “kashikoi”, which means ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kashikokute” consists of the following two parts:

• kashikoku – 賢く (かしこく) : one conjugation of “kashikoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kashikokute” is literally the te form of “kashikoi”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kashikokute” is very useful when we want to use “kashikoi” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “smart and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• yasashii – 優しい (やさしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘kind’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kashikokute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “yasashii”. When we want to use “kashikoi” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is useful to make a smooth connection.

Kashikokereba: the ba form of “kashikoi”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kashikokereba”.

• kashikokereba – 賢ければ (かしこければ) : the ba form of “kashikoi”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kashikokereba” consists of the following two parts:

• kashikokere – 賢けれ (かしこけれ) : one conjugation of “kashikoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kashikokereba” is literally the ba form of “kashikoi”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kashikokereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if smart” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• juubun – 十分 (じゅうぶん) : an adverb meaning ‘enough’ or such in Japanese.
• kagakusha – 科学者 (かがくしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘scientist’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say what someone or something becomes after a change or action. In the example, this is used after “kagakusha” to indicate what the listener can become.
• nareru – なれる : a potential verb meaning ‘can become’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kashikokereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “juubun kashikokereba”, which can mean ‘if you are smart enough’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kashikoi” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kashikoi – 賢い (かしこい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• kashikokunai – 賢くない (かしこくない) : the nai form of “kashikoi”, which means ‘not smart’, ‘not wise’, ‘not clever’, or such in Japanese.
• kashikokatta – 賢かった (かしこかった) : the ta form of “kashikoi”, which means ‘was smart’, ‘was wise’, ‘was clever’, or such in Japanese. This is the past tense form of “kashikoi”.
• kashikokute – 賢くて (かしこくて) : the te form of “kashikoi”, which means ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “kashikoi” in front of another adjective, this te form is useful to make a smooth connection.
• kashikokereba – 賢ければ (かしこければ) : the ba form of “kashikoi”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘smart’, ‘wise’, ‘clever’, or such in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.