賢かしこい

か

し

こ

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

Describes a person, animal, or decision that shows intelligence, good judgment, or practical cleverness.

える

。

A smart dog learns tricks quickly.

2

i-adjective

children's language

Used especially for children and pets who are quiet, obedient, or not causing trouble. Often heard in Kansai dialect and in child-directed speech.

賢かしこいUsage85%
Standard kanji spelling for both senses.
かしこいUsage10%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for the 'well-behaved' sense.
畏かしこいUsage4%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
カシコイUsage1%

利り口こう
利口 also means clever or well-behaved, but can carry a nuance of being shrewd or knowing when to stay quiet, sometimes with a slightly negative or calculating tone.
頭あたまがいい
頭がいい focuses on intellectual ability and academic smartness, while 賢い includes practical wisdom and good judgment.

Derived from classical Japanese かしこし, meaning 'awesome' or 'wise'. The kanji 賢 carries the meaning of intelligence and prudence.