素敵

Japanese

Kanji in this term
素 敵
す
Grade: 5
てき
Grade: 6
(ateji)
on’yomi
Alternative spellings
素的
素適
ステキ

Etymology

Originally a compound of 素 (su, abbreviation of 素晴らしい (subarashii, “wonderful, superb”)) +‎ 的 (-teki, “-ish, -like”, adjectivizing suffix).[1][2][3][4] First appears in the Edo period.[1][2][3]

The use of 敵 (teki, “enemy”) instead of 的 (teki, “-ish, -like”) is an example of phonetic ateji (当て字).

Pronunciation

Adjective

素(す)敵(てき) • (suteki) -na (adnominal 素(す)敵(てき)な (suteki na), adverbial 素(す)敵(てき)に (suteki ni))

  1. lovely
    素敵(すてき)だね
    suteki da ne
    Isn't it wonderful?
  2. wonderful, splendid

Usage notes

  • This is an example of a word that can be spelled with katakana to convey an informal conversational tone, as ステキ.
  • Generally regarded as an informal word to be used in speech, and not in formal writing.[4]

Inflection

Synonyms

References

  1. 1988, 国語大辞典(新装版) (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  3. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  4. 1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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