Japanese word

センス

Pronunciation

Romajisensu

Meaning

  • nounsense

Example

彼はユーモアのセンスがあります。kare wa yū mo a no se n su ga a ri ma su

He has a good sense of humor.

Illustration for センス (sense)

More examples

彼女のセンスのよい返しに、みんなが笑いました。kano jo no se n su no yo i kae shi ni mi n na ga wara i ma shi ta

Everyone laughed at her witty response.

Core concept

Expresses the capacity to notice qualities and make choices that suit a situation or create a pleasing effect.

Common phrases

  • センスがあるse n su ga a ru

    have good taste

  • センスのいいse n su no i i

    tasteful

  • 言葉のセンスkoto ba no se n su

    a feel for words

Similar words

感覚kankaku: A way of perceiving qualities and making judgments about what fits a situation.
感性kansei: The power to respond to fine qualities in art, expression, or other experiences.
趣味shumi: A personal preference about what looks attractive or feels appropriate.

Definition in Japanese

感覚を働かせて物事を理解したり、場面に合うよい選択や表現をしたりする力。kan kaku o hatara ka se te mono goto o ri kai shi ta ri ba men ni a u yo i sen taku ya hyō gen o shi ta ri su ru chikara

Word origin

センス (sensu) entered Japanese from English sense, a word tracing back to Latin sensus, "perception"; Japanese usage adds the related idea of distinctive taste or flair.

Usage tips

  • The Japanese word センス (sensu) is common when discussing fashion, design, or humor, but the closest natural English wording often depends on the specific context.

Other meanings

  • tastenoun
  • flairnoun

Word lists with this word