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いい

ii

The moment 'that's fine' becomes a refusal

The picture You look at what's in front of you once, nod, and let it pass as it is. いい is the nod that lets it pass; 悪い is the shake of the head that turns it away.

Describing words

Where the picture shows up in いい

  1. a good thing

    このカメラはいいですね。

    kono kamera wa ii desu ne

    This camera is nice.

    The camera lifted to feel its weight, followed by a nod

  2. allowed

    窓を開けてもいいですか。

    mado o ake-te mo ii desu ka

    May I open the window?

    A hand resting on the window frame, eyes on the other person waiting for the nod

    〜てもいい is the pattern for asking and granting permission.

  3. no thanks

    いいえ、袋はいいです。

    iie, fukuro wa ii desu

    No, I don't need a bag.

    A palm raised at the till to gently block the offered bag

    いいです, said in the right tone, is a refusal: 'I'm fine without it'.

  4. that works

    明日の三時でいいですか。

    ashita no sanji de ii desu ka

    Is three o'clock tomorrow all right?

    A finger on the three o'clock slot in a planner, eyes asking for confirmation

  5. fine weather

    今日はいい天気ですね。

    kyō wa ii tenki desu ne

    Nice weather today, isn't it.

    The door opens on a cloudless sky and the head nods by itself

All of it in one picture

いい is one picture: a nod that lets something through. Nod at an object and it's well made; nod at a request and you may go ahead; nod at a time and the time is set. Nod at the sky and it's a fine day to go out — and nod at the bag held out to you, meaning 'it's fine as it is', and you have just turned it down.

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