What is the difference between "かしこい" and "賢い"?

"かしこい" means "wise; clever; intelligent" (N3), whereas "賢い" represents "wise, clever" (B1).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "かしこい (kashikoi)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

かしこい (kashikoi)

N3 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

かしこい (kashikoi)

B1 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "かしこい (kashikoi)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

かしこい (Level: N3): Translates to "wise; clever; intelligent" and is used when Describes someone or something.
賢い (Level: B1): Maps to "wise, clever" and carries the nuance of Essential structural term in CEFR B1 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "かしこい"

彼女はとてもかしこい学生で、いつも良い成績をとる。

She is a very intelligent student and always gets good grades.

Bilingual Context for "賢い"

これはとても賢いですね。

This is very wise, clever, isn't it?

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "彼女はとても＿＿＿学生で、いつも良い成績をとる。" (Meaning: "She is a very intelligent student and always gets good grades.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "かしこい" is used for "wise; clever; intelligent" in the context: "She is a very intelligent student and always gets good grades.".