忌まわしいもの
imawashii mono
The English word "abomination" can be translated into Japanese as 忌まわしいもの (imawashii mono).
The phrase 忌まわしいもの is used to describe something detestable or something gross. Another way to express this concept is 忌むべき存在, which describes an existence that should be abhorred or avoided.
Meaning: something abominable (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 忌まわしいもの is composed of the adjective 忌まわしい (imawashii), meaning 'abominable' or 'detestable' and the noun もの (mono), meaning 'thing'.
Which one should you use?
While 忌まわしいもの refers to an abominable thing, 忌むべき存在 is used to describe an existence that should be avoided or abhorred. In very informal contexts, the term ゴミ, which means garbage or trash, can be used to describe someone or something that is viewed as repulsive or detestable.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 忌まわしいもの uses the attributive form of the adjective 忌まわしい to modify the noun もの.
How do you pronounce it?
imawashii mono
Did you know?
- The kanji 忌 (imu) is the same character used in the word 忌日 (kiji), which refers to the anniversary of a person's death.
- The root verb 忌む (imu) originally relates to Shinto practices of avoiding 'impurity' to prevent bad luck or divine anger.
- The adjective 忌まわしい (imawashii) is rarely used in casual daily speech and is instead found mostly in written texts, historical dramas and formal storytelling.
Examples in context
- 彼の行いは悪行そのものです。His behavior is an abomination.
- 彼はその忌まわしいものを直視できなかった。Kare wa sono imawashii mono o chokushi dekinakatta.He could not look directly at that abomination.
- この儀式は忌まわしいものとして語り継がれている。Kono gishiki wa imawashii mono to shite kataritsugarete iru.This ritual is passed down as an abomination.
Example conversation
Two siblings are looking at an old, cursed-looking relic in a museum.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、この古い像はなんだか怖いわ。Yōta, kono furui zō wa nandaka kowai wa.Yōta, this old statue is somewhat scary.
- 陽太 Yotaこれは、昔から忌まわしいものと呼ばれているんだ。Kore wa, mukashi kara imawashii mono to yobarete iru n da.This has been called an abomination since long ago.
- 陽葵 Himariそんな恐ろしいものとは、知りたくなかったわ。Sonna osoroshii mono to wa, shiritaku nakatta wa.I didn't want to know about such a terrifying thing.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵、あまり近づかないほうがいい。Himari, amari chikazukanai hō ga ii.Himari, you shouldn't get too close.
