冴える (Saeru) is a Japanese ichidan verb meaning “to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.), to be bright, to be vivid, to be crisp”.
Meanings
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.); to be bright; to be vivid; to be crisp
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be clear-headed; to be alert; to be on the ball; to be wide awake
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto look upbeat; to be perky; to be cheerfuloften as 冴えない
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto master (a skill); to excel at; to cleanly execute
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be satisfyingoften as 冴えない
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto become frigid; to become intensely coldoriginal meaning; now somewhat old-fashioned
Examples
満月が空にさえている。
A full moon is shining bright in the sky.
彼女は頭のさえた人だ。
She is a clear-headed.
話が進むにつれ彼の弁舌はますますさえた。
His speech had more and more power as it went along.
Sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR).