冴える （さえる） to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.), to be bright, to be vivid, to be crisp, to be clear-headed, to be alert, to be on the ball, to be wide awake, to look upbeat, to be perky, to be cheerful, to master (a skill), to excel at, to cleanly execute, to be satisfying, to become frigid, to become intensely cold
Kanji
Jinmeiyō kanji, used in names
JLPT level: N1
2341 of 2500 most used kanji in newspapers
Stroke count: 7
Meaning: be clear, serene, cold, skilful
Kunyomi: さ.える こお.る ひ.える
Onyomi: ゴ コ
Composition: 冫 牙
冴
Radical
Radical: 冫
Meaning: ice
冫
Examples
Onyomi Examples
冴寒 （ゴカン） extreme cold
Kunyomi Examples
冴える （さえる） to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.), to be bright, to be vivid, to be crisp, to be clear-headed, to be alert, to be on the ball, to be wide awake, to look upbeat, to be perky, to be cheerful, to master (a skill), to excel at, to cleanly execute, to be satisfying, to become frigid, to become intensely cold