さとい

さ

と

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

clever; smart; sharp-witted

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person who is mentally quick, perceptive, and able to understand things easily. Often used for children or people who catch on fast.

あの

子こ

は

さとい

の

で

、

一いち

度ど

教おし

え

たら

もう

できる

。

That child is sharp, so once you teach them, they can already do it.

2

i-adjective

usually written using kana alone

Used for acute senses or keen perception, such as sharp ears or a discerning eye. Often appears in phrases like 耳がさとい (sharp-eared).

さといUsage41%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 聡い and 敏い are rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
聡さといUsage36%
Rare kanji form; 聡 suggests wisdom and intelligence.
敏さといUsage22%
Rare kanji form; 敏 suggests quickness and sharpness.

賢かしこい
賢い is a more common word for 'smart' or 'wise', often implying good judgment. さとい emphasizes quickness of perception and can also refer to sensory sharpness.
鋭するどい
鋭い means 'sharp' in a broader sense (blades, insight, glances). さとい is limited to mental or sensory acuity and is less common.

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the adjective さとし (wise, enlightened), but the exact derivation is unclear.