小こ気き味み

also: こきび

こ

き

み

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

Often used in the set phrase 小気味がいい (or 小気味いい) meaning 'pleasant feeling' or 'satisfying sensation'. The word itself is somewhat literary and not used in everyday casual speech.

彼かれの歯は切ぎれの良よい返へん答とうが小こ気き味みよかった。
His crisp reply was pleasantly satisfying.
小こ気き味みのいいリズムに思おもわず体からだが動うごく。
The rhythm feels so good that my body moves involuntarily.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Expressions

小こ気き味みよげにgloatingly; with smug satisfaction

Kanji

小little, small
気spirit, mind, air
味flavor, taste

Related words

気き持もち
気持ち is the common, everyday word for 'feeling' or 'sensation'. 小気味 is more literary and often appears in the phrase 小気味がいい to describe a pleasant, crisp sensation.
快かい感かん
快感 means 'pleasant sensation' or 'pleasure', often physical. 小気味がいい emphasizes a brisk, refreshing, or satisfying feeling rather than pure pleasure.

Word family

小こ気き味み良よい
delightful; satisfying; brisk; piquant

Built from

小こ+気き味み

Written forms

小気味
- こきみ
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading こきみ is the most common.
- こきび
  Rare alternate reading; こきみ is strongly preferred in modern usage.
こきび

Etymology

Compound of 小 (small, slight) and 気味 (feeling, sensation). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period to describe a subtle, pleasant feeling.