Compliments in Japanese: A beginner’s guide to natural expressions

Compliments in Japanese culture focus on modesty and indirect praise rather than bold flattery. Understanding this subtle approach helps you connect authentically with Japanese speakers while showing cultural awareness.

Mastering natural compliments opens doors to meaningful conversations and deeper relationships in Japanese-speaking environments.

How to compliment someone in Japanese naturally

Japanese compliments work differently than you might expect – they celebrate effort and humility over grand gestures. This cultural preference shapes how you give and receive praise to sound natural and respectful in conversation.

We’ll explore three key compliment categories that cover most situations you’ll encounter. Appearance-based phrases work well for casual interactions, skill and achievement recognition fits professional settings, and effort-focused expressions align perfectly with Japanese values about hard work.

Learning these patterns helps you avoid awkward moments like over-praising or missing cues for modest replies. For more conversation building blocks, check out our guide to Japanese greetings and farewells.

Compliments about appearance

Appearance compliments in Japan require extra sensitivity and should be reserved for people you know well. Avoid commenting on strangers’ looks, and always keep your tone respectful and appropriate. These Japanese compliments for appearance work best with close colleagues, friends, or family members.

Here are the most natural ways to compliment someone’s appearance:

• かわいい (kawaii, cute)

• きれい (kirei, pretty)

• かっこいい (kakkoii, handsome/attractive)

• おしゃれですね (oshare desu ne, you are stylish)

The particle ね (ne, “right?/isn’t it?”) that appears in several phrases adds warmth and a confirmation tone to your compliment. The particle ね (ne, “right?/isn’t it?”) also creates a sense of shared observation rather than a direct statement, helping your words feel more natural and less assertive. When you say cute in Japanese using かわいい (kawaii, “cute”), you’re expressing genuine appreciation in a way that aligns with cultural norms and feels considerate and sincere.

Compliments about skills and achievements

Workplace conversations and hobby discussions provide perfect opportunities to recognize someone’s abilities and hard work. Japanese culture values acknowledging the effort behind achievements rather than suggesting someone has natural-born talent.

These phrases help you celebrate skills and accomplishments appropriately:

• 上手ですね (jouzu desu ne, you are skillful)

• すごい (sugoi, amazing)

• いいセンスですね (ii sensu desu ne, you have good taste)

• 写真が上手ですね (shashin ga jouzu desu ne, your photography is great)

Remember to keep your tone warm and sincere rather than overly enthusiastic, as exaggerated praise can sound artificial in Japanese conversations. If you still need core greeting phrases, check how to say hello in Japanese.

Compliments about effort and personality

Japanese society deeply values diligence, kindness, and perseverance. These Japanese appreciation phrases acknowledge the character traits that matter most in building meaningful relationships.

• 頑張っていますね (ganbatte imasu ne, you are working hard)

• 優しいですね (yasashii desu ne, you’re kind)

• 若々しいですね (wakawakashii desu ne, you look youthful)

• 素敵ですね (suteki desu ne, lovely)

These phrases work beautifully across all ages and genders, making them safe choices when you want to show appreciation. They reflect the Japanese appreciation for inner qualities and sustained effort over flashy achievements.

How to reply humbly when praised

Humility is fundamental when receiving compliments in Japanese culture. The most common humble responses include いえいえ (no, no) and とんでもないです (not at all), which gently deflect praise while showing gratitude.

Even when saying thank you with ありがとうございます, it’s common to add a slight self-downplaying comment to show modesty. Learning how to respond to compliments in Japanese shows your understanding of cultural values and helps you fit in naturally. The key rule: redirect credit to effort or circumstances rather than accepting praise directly – this demonstrates the humility that Japanese culture values so highly.

Practice compliments with exercises

Test your knowledge with these practical scenarios that mirror real conversations you’ll have with Japanese speakers.

Fill-in-the-blank drill

Complete these sentences with the most appropriate compliment:

1. Your colleague shows you their new outfit:

   “とても______ですね！” (Very ______!)
   Hint: stylish / nice clothes

2. A coworker gives an excellent presentation:

   “______！”
   Hint: great job / well done

3. Someone helps you with a difficult task:

   “______ですね。”
   Hint: you’re so kind / helpful

4. You see your neighbor’s beautiful garden:

   “______が上手ですね。” (You’re good at ______!)
   Hint: gardening / taking care of plants

5. A child shows you their drawing:

   “______！”
   Hint: how cute / amazing / great drawing

Multiple   choice match

Choose the best compliment for each situation:

1. Your Japanese colleague got a stylish haircut. What do you say?

• a) すごい (sugoi)

• b) おしゃれですね (oshare desu ne)

• c) 頑張っていますね (ganbatte imasu ne)

2. A coworker stays late to finish an important project. How do you acknowledge their effort?

• a) かわいい (kawaii)

• b) きれい (kirei)

• c) 頑張っていますね (ganbatte imasu ne)

3. Someone shows exceptional skill at playing piano. What’s the most appropriate response?

• a) 上手ですね (jouzu desu ne)

• b) 若々しいですね (wakawakashii desu ne)

• c) おしゃれですね (oshare desu ne)

Practice speaking these phrases aloud to build your confidence and natural rhythm. The more you vocalize these expressions, the more natural they’ll sound in real conversations.

Compliments in real life

Here are two natural conversations showing compliments in context:

Coffee shop with colleagues:

A: その服、とてもかわいいですね！ (Sono fuku, totemo kawaii desu ne!)
B: いえいえ、古いものですよ。 (Ie ie, furui mono desu yo.)
A: でも、とてもおしゃれです。 (Demo, totemo oshare desu.)

A: That outfit is really cute!
B: No, no, it’s just something old.
A: But it’s very stylish.

This casual exchange shows how colleagues compliment each other with gentle persistence. The recipient responds with ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) – see more ways to say

thank you in Japanese.

Office presentation:

A: プレゼンテーション、とても上手でした (Purezentēshon, totemo jōzu deshita)
B: ありがとうございます。まだまだです (Arigatou gozaimasu. Mada mada desu)
A: いえ、本当にすごかったです (Ie, hontou ni sugokatta desu)

A: Your presentation was very skillful.
B: Thank you. I still have a long way to go.
A: No, it was impressive.

This workplace dialogue demonstrates the formal politeness level appropriate for professional settings. Notice how the recipient maintains humility even while expressing gratitude.

Preply makes your path to speaking naturally faster

We’ve covered three families of compliments – appearance, skills, and personality – plus the art of humble replies that make your Japanese sound natural and culturally aware. These foundations help you navigate social interactions with confidence while showing respect for Japanese values.

Preply connects you with over 100,000 expert tutors worldwide through our human-led, AI-enabled learning platform. Our smart tools like Lesson Insights and Daily Exercises keep your progress moving between live sessions. According to our 2025 Efficiency Study, learners show accelerated progress compared to industry expectations, with 94% reporting improved fluency after 24+ lessons.

Ready to master the cultural nuances behind these compliments? Meet online Japanese tutors who can coach your pronunciation, timing, and the subtle tone differences that make compliments feel genuine. Find a tutor and start learning today.

Answers to compliments exercises

Answers to fill-in-the-blank exercises

1. おしゃれ (stylish)

2. すごい (amazing)

3. 優しい (kind)

4. 庭 (garden)

5. かわいい (cute)

Answers to multiple choice exercises

1. b) おしゃれですね (oshare desu ne) – you’re stylish / that looks stylish
   This acknowledges their stylish new look appropriately.

2. c) 頑張っていますね (ganbatte imasu ne) – you’re working hard / you’re putting in effort
   This recognizes their hard work and dedication.

3. a) 上手ですね (jouzu desu ne) – you’re good at it / you’re skilled
   This specifically compliments their musical skill and technique.

FAQs about compliments in Japanese

How do I compliment a girl in Japanese text messages?

Use gentle phrases like かわいい (kawaii, cute) or おしゃれですね (oshare desu ne, you’re stylish), but keep it appropriate to your relationship level and context.

What’s the difference between すごい and 上手ですね when praising skills?

すごい (sugoi, amazing / wow) is more casual and expresses amazement, while 上手ですね (jouzu desu ne, you’re skilled / good at this) is polite and specifically acknowledges skillfulness or technique.

Can I use the same compliments for both men and women?

Most compliments work for everyone, but かわいい (kawaii, cute) is typically used for women, children, or cute objects rather than adult men.

How do I know if my compliment was well-received in Japanese culture?

Look for humble responses like いえいえ (ie ie, no, not at all) or とんでもないです (tondemonai desu, not at all / it’s nothing), which show the person appreciates your words while maintaining cultural modesty.