Translation guide
Describes a lively, energetic, and cheerful mood or personality. Japanese expressions range from describing an upbeat mood to a naturally cheerful disposition.
Expressing that someone is in high spirits, feeling cheerful and energetic.
A common adjective meaning cheerful, lively, and merry. Can describe a person's mood or personality.
He is a very high-spirited person.
I'm feeling high-spirited today.
Literally 'full of energy', used to describe someone bursting with vitality and good spirits.
The children are playing high-spiritedly.
Means 'feeling good', often used for a cheerful, upbeat mood.
I'm in high spirits today.
Describes a cheerful, lively, and brisk personality. Slightly more formal or literary.
She has a high-spirited personality.
Means bright, cheerful, and good-humored. Often used for a sunny disposition.
His high-spirited smile is memorable.
Describing actions or behavior that are lively, spirited, and full of energy.
Means active, lively, and vigorous. Often used for children or group activities.
The children are playing high-spiritedly.
Adverbial form meaning 'energetically' or 'in high spirits'.
He waved high-spiritedly.
Describes being in high spirits with vigor and energy, sometimes with a connotation of being boisterous.
You're high-spirited today, aren't you?
Describing a horse that is lively, spirited, or frisky.
Used for a horse with a spirited or fiery temperament.
That horse is high-spirited.
陽気 (youki) emphasizes cheerfulness and a merry mood, while 元気 (genki) focuses on physical energy and vitality. A person can be 元気 without being particularly cheerful, but 陽気 implies a bright, happy disposition.
He is energetic but not very high-spirited.
Avoid directly translating 'high-spirited' as 高い精神 (takai seishin). This is not natural Japanese and would be confusing.