also: かんがよい
expression, i-adjective (yoi/ii class)
quick on the uptake; perceptive; intuitive
Describes someone who grasps situations, hints, or unspoken things quickly without needing detailed explanation.
彼は勘がいいから、説明しなくてもすぐわかる。
He's quick on the uptake, so he gets it right away without explanation.
あの子は本当に勘がいいね。一度教えただけ
That kid is really perceptive. He remembered everything after being shown just once.
Similar meaning, but 察しがいい emphasizes picking up on subtle social cues or reading between the lines, while 勘がいい is broader and includes instinctive understanding.
Focuses on learning or understanding new things quickly, often in a teaching or training context. 勘がいい is more about innate intuition.
Compound of 勘 (intuition, sixth sense) + が (subject marker) + いい (good). The phrase literally means 'one's intuition is good' and is a common idiomatic expression.