the moon is beautiful, isn't it?
A phrase famously associated with Natsume Sōseki, who reportedly used it as an indirect, poetic way to express 'I love you'. In modern usage, it can be a romantic or literary allusion, but is not a standard expression of affection.
「月が綺麗ですね」は漱石の逸話で有名な言葉だ。
'The moon is beautiful, isn't it?' is a phrase famous from the anecdote about Sōseki.
彼は夜空を見上げて「月が綺麗ですね」とつぶやいた。
He looked up at the night sky and murmured, 'The moon is beautiful, isn't it?'
Standard kanji-kana spelling of the phrase.
Kana spelling of 綺麗 is common in everyday writing.
Supposedly coined by Natsume Sōseki as an indirect translation of the English 'I love you'. The exact origin is anecdotal and not historically verified.