さえる

冴 える

Common word

  1. Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

    to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.), to be bright, to be vivid, to be crisp

    • 満月が空にさえている。
      A full moon is shining bright in the sky.

  2. Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

    to be clear-headed, to be alert, to be on the ball, to be wide awake

    • 昨日ゆっくり休んだ分、今日は頭が冴えている。
      I feel smart today, to a degree that is in proportion to the amount of good rest I had yesterday.

  3. Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

    to look upbeat, to be perky, to be cheerful
    often as 冴えない

  4. Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

    to master (a skill), to excel at, to cleanly execute

  5. Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

    to be satisfying
    often as 冴えない

  6. Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

    to become frigid, to become intensely cold
    original meaning; now somewhat old-fashioned