The Meaning of rikō [利口] In Japanese

利口
りこう
Romaji: rikō N3

What does 利口 mean?

Translation and Meaning

clever, smart, bright

Definition

What does 利口 mean? It means clever or smart; describes someone who uses intelligence effectively and exercises good judgment in practical situations, commonly used for people and occasionally animals.

Type

adjective (na-adjective)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary sense: clever, bright; capable of quick, practical thinking.
  • Practical intelligence and resourcefulness; often described as street-smart.
  • Positive evaluation of judgment or discernment; not usually implying theoretical brilliance.
  • Less common nuance: can hint at shrewdness or cunning in some contexts, but generally positive.

Etymology

利口 rikō is a compound that uses the on’yomi readings of the two kanji; both characters contribute a phonetic value in standard Japanese pronunciation, yielding rikō without irregular phonetic shifts.

Composition

  • 利: advantage, benefit, profit
  • 口: mouth; speech-related meaning; when combined, conveys the idea of expressing oneself with beneficial effectiveness

Usage

Used to describe people (and sometimes animals) who show good judgment and quick thinking; in casual speech you may hear 利口だ or 利口な人; in neutral to formal writing you’ll find 利口な判断 or 利口な性格. It is not typically used for inanimate objects; for devices or concepts, 賢い is sometimes more natural.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a mouth that always yields benefits; associate the sound rikō with the idea of speaking wisely to gain advantage.

Variations

  • 賢い (kashikoi) — smart, wise
  • 聡明な (sōmei na) — bright, sensible
  • 機転が利く (kiten ga kiku) — quick-witted
  • 馬鹿な (baka na) — stupid (antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 彼は 利口だ から 学校の 成績 が いい。
    Kare wa rikou da kara gakkou no seiseki ga ii.
    He is clever, so his grades are good.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 利口だ (rikou da) – clever
    • から (kara) – because
    • 学校の (gakkou no) – school’s
    • 成績 (seiseki) – grades
    • が (ga) – (subject marker)
    • いい (ii) – good
    「利口」 is a na-adjective; you can describe people as 「利口だ」 or 「利口な人」.
利口