also: あたまがよい
頭がいい · i-adjective (yoi/ii class)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 頭がいい | 頭がよくない |
| Polite | 頭がいいです | 頭がよくないですalso 頭がよくありません |
| Past polite | 頭がよかったです | 頭がよくなかったですalso 頭がよくありませんでした |
| Past | 頭がよかった | 頭がよくなかった |
| Te-form | 頭がよくて | 頭がよくなくて |
| Adverbial | 頭がよく | |
| Conditional | 頭がよければ | 頭がよくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 頭がよかったら | 頭がよくなかったら |
expression, i-adjective (yoi/ii class)
bright; intelligent; clever; smart
Describes a person who is intellectually sharp or quick-witted. Often used in casual conversation. The antonym is 頭が悪い.
Antonyms: 頭が悪い
彼は本当に頭がいいから、すぐに理解する。
He's really bright, so he understands right away.
You can't succeed just by being smart.
頭がいい is a general, neutral way to say someone is smart, whereas 利口 often describes clever or well-behaved children or pets and can carry a hint of shrewdness.
頭が切れる highlights quick, sharp thinking and problem-solving, while 頭がいい is a broader term for being intelligent or smart in general.
not smart; slow; dumb
Most common spelling; uses the colloquial いい form.
More formal or written style; uses 良い with reading よい.
Kana-mixed spelling of the formal form.
Compound of 頭 (atama, 'head') + が (ga, subject marker) + いい (ii, 'good'). Literally 'head is good', an idiomatic expression for intelligence.