いい線いってる (ii sen itteru): The Compliment 'You're on the right track!'

Have you ever presented an idea to your boss, and instead of a solid compliment like 完璧！ (Perfect!), your boss nods and says:

「うん、いい線いってるね。」(Un, ii sen itteru ne.)

Should you be happy or worried at this moment? 🤔 Let's decode this subtly nuanced compliment!

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🧐 What does "Ii sen itteru" mean?

Literally, いい線 (ii sen) is a "good line," and いってる (itteru) is "going." Put together, we have a phrase that means "You're going in the right direction!" or "Almost there!".

This is a compliment, but it's one that provides guidance rather than final approval.

It subtly signals that:

• ✅ Your direction is correct: Your idea, approach, or reasoning is very promising.
• 🤔 But it's not perfect yet: There are still a few points to polish, or you need to take a few more steps to reach the destination.

It's an extremely skillful way to encourage, acknowledging effort while gently suggesting that the work isn't finished.

💡 Real-life situations

This phrase is used a lot in work, study, and even in everyday conversations.

1. At work 🏢

When your boss or a senior colleague reviews your draft plan:

Boss: 「この企画書、いい線いってるね。あとは具体的な数字をもう少し加えようか」 (This project proposal is on the right track. Now, let's just add a few more specific numbers.)

=> This compliment shows you don't have to start over, just make some improvements. What a relieving piece of feedback!

2. When guessing something 🤔

You're trying to solve a case with friends in a detective movie:

You: 「犯人はあの執事じゃない？」(Isn't the butler the culprit?) Your friend: 「お、いい線いってる！でも、もう一歩って感じかな〜」(Oh, you're close! But it feels like there's one more step~)

=> Using it in this context feels very natural and fun, encouraging the other person to keep thinking.

3. When commenting on a creative work 🎨

「このデザイン、すごくいい線いってると思う。メインカラーを青に変えたらもっとコンセプトが伝わるかも！」 (I think this design is on the right track. If you change the main color to blue, the concept might be conveyed better!)

✨ Conclusion

いい線いってる is a subtle communication gem. It's not a 'generic' compliment but a valuable tool for encouragement and guidance.

When you hear this phrase, be happy that you're on the right path. And understand that the speaker is expecting you to complete the final steps to create a truly excellent result. 🚀

Next time you want to give feedback, instead of pointing out mistakes, try using いい線いってるね to encourage them!