Translation and Meaning of: 嫌い - kirai

The Japanese word 嫌い[きらい] is a common term in everyday vocabulary, but its meaning and usage go beyond a simple translation. If you are learning Japanese or just curious about the language, understanding how this word functions can be essential to avoid misunderstandings. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is perceived culturally in Japan.

Additionally, we will see practical examples of usage and some tips to memorize this expression more easily. If you have ever wondered why Japanese people avoid certain words or how to express dislike politely, keep reading to learn more about 嫌い.

Meaning and translation of 嫌い

嫌い is an adjective in the -na form (嫌いな) that means "to hate," "to not like," or "to have aversion." Unlike the English "hate," which can sound very strong, 嫌い is used in everyday situations to express disinterest or antipathy towards something. For example, saying "野菜が嫌い" (yasai ga kirai) means "I don't like vegetables," without necessarily carrying intense hatred.

It is worth noting that, in Japan, openly expressing negative feelings can be considered rude. Therefore, 嫌い is often softened with expressions like "あまり好きじゃない" (amari suki ja nai – "I don't really like it"). This cultural nuance is important for those who want to communicate in a natural and respectful way.

Origin and writing of the kanji 嫌

The kanji 嫌 is composed of two elements: 女 (woman) and 兼 (at the same time). Some theories suggest that its origin dates back to the idea of "conflict" or "disagreement," reflecting a rejection. However, it is important to note that this interpretation is not directly related to the modern meaning of the word.

In writing, 嫌い can appear alone or in combinations such as 嫌悪 (ken’o – "repulsion") or 機嫌 (kigen – "mood"). However, its isolated use is the most common in daily life. For Japanese students, memorizing this kanji may be easier by associating it with related words, such as 好き (suki – "to like"), its direct antonym.

Cultural usage and frequency in Japan

In Japan, openly saying that something is 嫌い can be seen as impolite, especially in formal contexts. For this reason, many Japanese people prefer to use indirect forms or euphemisms. For example, instead of saying "仕事が嫌い" (shigoto ga kirai – "I hate my job"), someone might say "仕事は苦手です" (shigoto wa nigate desu – "I’m not good at my job").

Interestingly, 嫌い appears frequently in animes and dramas, usually in scenes of conflict or rejection. Its presence in the media helps to reinforce its meaning, but it can also give the impression that Japanese people use the word more directly than they actually do in real life. To avoid confusion, it's good to observe how natives use it in different situations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 嫌悪 (Ken'o) - Hatred; intense aversion.
• 嫌気 (Ienki) - Disappointment; bad mood; aversion.
• 嫌嫌 (Iya iya) - Reluctance; discontent; disappointment.
• 嫌憎 (Ken'zō) - Aversion; repulsion.
• 嫌いな (Kirai na) - Disgusting; that is hated.
• 嫌いなこと (Kirai na koto) - Thing that is hated.
• 嫌いなもの (Kirai na mono) - Object that is detested.
• 嫌いな人 (Kirai na hito) - Person who hates themselves.
• 嫌いな感じ (Kirai na kanji) - Feeling of heartbreak.
• 嫌いな顔 (Kirai na kao) - Detestable facial expression.
• 嫌いな音 (Kirai na oto) - Sons that detest each other.
• 嫌いな匂い (Kirai na nioi) - Smell that is hated.
• 嫌いな味 (Kirai na aji) - Taste that is hated.
• 嫌いな色 (Kirai na iro) - Color that is hated.
• 嫌いな言葉 (Kirai na kotoba) - A word that is detested.
• 嫌いな状況 (Kirai na jōkyō) - Situation that is detestable.
• 嫌いな場所 (Kirai na basho) - Place that is hated.
• 嫌いな時間 (Kirai na jikan) - Time that is hated.
• 嫌いな気持ち (Kirai na kimochi) - Feeling of heartbreak.
• 嫌いな性格 (Kirai na seikaku) - Personality that one hates.
• 嫌いな仕事 (Kirai na shigoto) - Work that is detested.
• 嫌いな食べ物 (Kirai na tabemono) - Food that is hated.
• 嫌いな趣味 (Kirai na shumi) - Hobby that is detested.

嫌い

Romaji: kirai
Kana: きらい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: antipathy; hatred

Meaning in English: dislike;hate

Definition: I do not like it, I have an aversion to it.

Example Sentences - (嫌い) kirai

See below some example sentences:

騒々しい場所は嫌いです。

Souzoushii basho wa kirai desu

I don't like noisy places.

I hate noisy places.

• 騒々しい - noisy
• 場所 - place
• は - Topic particle
• 嫌い - hate, dislike
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

私は嫌いな食べ物があります。

Watashi wa kirai na tabemono ga arimasu

I have food that I don't like.

I have food that I hate.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 嫌いな (kirai na) - Japanese adjective meaning "hateful" or "unpleasant", followed by the particle na to indicate that it is an adjective
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - Japanese noun meaning "food"
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to exist" or "to be", in the present tense

好き嫌いは人それぞれです。

Sukikirai wa hito sorezore desu

Likes and dislikes vary from person to person.

Likes and dislikes are different for everyone.

• 好き嫌い (sukikirai) - likes and dislikes
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 人 (hito) - person
• それぞれ (sorezore) - Each one, individually
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

五月蝿いと言われる季節が嫌いです。

Gogatsubyoui to iwareru kisetsu ga kirai desu

I don't like the season it's called "Gogatsubyoui"

I hate the season, which is said to be can fly.

• 五月蝿い (gogatsubyoui) - means "noisy like May flies", referring to the constant buzzing of insects during the month of May in Japan.
• と言われる (to iwareru) - means "it is said that".
• 季節 (kisetsu) - means "season".
• が (ga) - Subject particle.
• 嫌い (kirai) - means "to hate" or "to dislike".
• です (desu) - polite way of "being" or "being".

月曜日は私の一番嫌いな曜日です。

Getsuyoubi wa watashi no ichiban kirai na youbi desu

Monday is my least favorite day of the week.

Monday is my most hated day.

• 月曜日 - means "Monday" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私の - "Meu" in Japanese
• 一番 - "the most" or "number one" in Japanese
• 嫌いな - "hated" or "disliked" in Japanese
• 曜日 - "day of the week" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese

気まぐれな天気が嫌いです。

Kimagure na tenki ga kirai desu

I don't like unpredictable weather.

I hate fancy weather.

• 気まぐれな - adjective meaning "unpredictable" or "fickle"
• 天気 - noun meaning "climate" or "weather"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 嫌い - adjective meaning "to hate" or "to dislike"
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense