せいせい

せ

い

せ

い

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

せいせいする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

feeling refreshed; feeling relieved

usually written using kana alone

Describes a clean, clear, or relieved feeling, often after something bothersome is gone. Used adverbially with と or as a する verb.

〈人ひと〉〉がいなくなって清々せいせいするto feel relieved now that a bothersome person is gone
うるさい上じょう司しが転てん勤きんしていなくなって清せい々せいした。
My annoying boss got transferred, and I felt so relieved.
〈事こと〉〉が終おわって清々せいせいするto feel a sense of relief once a troublesome task is over
長ながい試し験けんがやっと終おわって清せい々せいした。
The long exam was finally over, and I felt a great sense of relief.

すっきりN3
すっきり emphasizes a crisp, uncluttered feeling of physical or mental clarity, while 清々 focuses on relief after a burden or annoyance is gone.
さっぱりN3
さっぱり can mean refreshed or neat but also carries a 'not at all' sense in negative sentences, which 清々 lacks.
晴はれ晴ばれN1
晴れ晴れ describes a bright, cheerful clearing of one's mood, very close to 清々 but with less emphasis on escaping a specific irritant.

せいせいUsage75%
Usually written in kana; kanji forms are rare and may be confusing.
清せい々せいUsage23%
Rare kanji spelling; the repetition mark 々 is used, but the kana form is strongly preferred.
セイセイUsage2%
清せい清せい
Rare kanji spelling without repetition mark; not commonly used.
晴せい々せい
Rare kanji spelling; the character 晴 suggests clear weather, but the kana form is standard.
晴せい晴せい
Rare kanji spelling without repetition mark; not commonly used.

The exact derivation is uncertain; it is a mimetic word expressing a sense of clarity and relief, possibly related to the kanji 清 (pure, clear).