What does O'kawaii Koto mean?

Those who saw Kaguya-Sama: Love is War probably noticed the famous expression “O’kawaii koto”. But does it only mean “cute”? Or is there something more to it, a hidden subtext in Kaguya Shinomiya's gaze?

If this term has been ringing in your head, today we will understand its real meaning and some things you probably had no idea about. Does it mean cute in Japanese or something more?

What does O'kawaii koto mean?

At first glance, “お可愛いこと” (o-kawaii-koto) seems simple: something like “what a lovely thing” or “how cute.” It’s one of those ways of complimenting that only the Japanese have, perfect for situations where you see a puppy stumbling or a friend making a naive comment.

In daily life, the Japanese use it to praise anything or anyone that evokes that delightful feeling of tenderness — a gesture, a glance, even an unexpected act. It doesn't have to be just babies or cute animals. Sometimes it's just that friend who is trying to speak Japanese for the first time, and someone almost instinctively says “o-kawaii-koto.”

Dissecting the sentence, we arrive at the following:

• The (お): This “o” at the beginning is an honorific prefix in Japanese, called “keigo”. It serves to give a more polite, respectful, or delicate tone to the accompanying word.
• Kawaii (可愛い): Means “cute,” “adorable,” or “charming.” It is an adjective used in various situations, mainly to praise people, animals, objects, and even behaviors that evoke tenderness or affection.
• Koto (こと): Refers to "thing" or "fact" in an abstract way, used to refer to situations, events or characteristics, and not physical objects. In the expression, "koto" serves to transform "kawaii" into a more general concept, pointing to the "cuteness" of some action, situation or context.

How is O'kawaii koto used in Kaguya-Sama?

In Kaguya-sama: Love is War, the expression "o-kawaii-koto" is used by the character Kaguya Shinomiya to express her affection and admiration for the protagonist, Miyuki Shirogane, who she finds extremely cute.

But differently than expected, the protagonist Shirogani does not view this phrase with admiration, but rather as irony. Yes, in Kaguya-sama: Love is War, the expression “o-kawaii-koto” is often used in an ironic or comical way, especially when Kaguya is trying to hide her feelings for Shirogane.

Although she feels a strong attraction to him, she often tries to maintain a cool and controlled image so as not to reveal her true feelings. So when she finds herself admiring something he does or says, she often uses the expression “o-kawaii-koto” in an ironic or exaggerated way, to downplay her feelings and maintain her facade of indifference.

In this sense, the expression is used in a comical way to create funny situations and show the romantic tension between Kaguya and Shirogane. In the anime, this phrase for Shirogani is like disapproval.

Curious, isn't it? In Japan, this type of irony is subtler than we're used to in the West. When Kaguya releases the “o-kawaii-koto”, she is disguising her own nervousness. The hand gesture on her chin, the sidelong glance, everything is choreographed to confuse not only Shirogane but also those who are watching.

For those who appreciate details: the voice actress of Kaguya excels in her intonation. In Japanese, the way you say something changes everything — it can be sweet, neutral, ironic, or even a slight provocation. Because of this, fans end up repeating the phrase almost like an inside joke. It has already become a meme, received remixes, stickers, t-shirts… and anyone who has never played around imitating her gesture is probably not that immersed in the world of anime.

Kaguya Shinomiya's Gesture

When you notice the details of Kaguya Shinomiya's gesture — hand on chin, head slightly tilted, eyes half-closed — you realize that it's more than just a simple compliment. There's an attempt to control her own heart, almost as if she's telling herself: “Calm down, don’t let it show.”

This combination of speech + gesture creates a body language that only those who have experienced the situation of wanting to appear "cool" in front of someone they like will understand. It’s subtle, but it's real.