シャープ

シャ

ー

プ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

Describes something physically or figuratively sharp: a blade, a clear image, a keen mind, or a sharp remark. Used as a な-adjective.

このナイフはとてもシャープで、よく切きれる。
This knife is very sharp and cuts well.
彼かれの分ぶん析せきはいつもシャープだ。
His analysis is always sharp.

noun

sharp (music)

music

In music, a note raised by a semitone. Often contrasted with フラット (flat).

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉がシャープだsomething is sharp/clear (image, design, sound)
新あたらしいカメラの画が質しつはとてもシャープだ。
The new camera's image quality is very sharp.
〈音おと〉にシャープをつけるto add a sharp sign to a note
このメロディーの最さい後ごの音おとにシャープをつけた。
I added a sharp to the last note of this melody.
〈番ばん号ごう〉の後あとにシャープを押おすto press the hash/pound key after a number
内ない線せん番ばん号ごうを入にゅう力りょくした後あと、シャープを押おしてください。
Please press the pound key after entering the extension number.
シャープに〈動どう詞し〉to do something sharply/keenly (react, respond, cut)
彼かれはどんな質しつ問もんにもシャープに答こたえる。
He answers any question sharply and precisely.

Related words

鋭するどいN3sense 1
シャープ is a loanword often used for sleek, clear, or precise things like design or sound, while 鋭い is the native word for physical sharpness or keen perception.
ハッシュ
シャープ is the everyday, colloquial word Japanese speakers use for the # symbol (strictly it names the musical sharp sign), while ハッシュ is the more technically precise loanword for the hash/pound sign.

Opposites

鈍にぶいN3sense 1
シャープ describes something sharp or keen, while 鈍い describes something dull or slow, the direct opposite.
フラット sense 2
In music, シャープ raises a note by a semitone while フラット lowers it, making them opposites.

Word family

シャープペンシルN5
mechanical pencil; propelling pencil
ダブルシャープ
double sharp

Etymology

From English 'sharp'. The musical and symbol senses are direct loans; the mechanical pencil sense is a shortening of シャープペンシル (sharp pencil), a brand-derived term.