雨が嫌い
ame ga kirai
To say "I hate rain" in Japanese, use 雨が嫌い (ame ga kirai).
This phrase is a statement used to express a general dislike of rainy weather. While 雨が嫌い expresses a direct dislike, you can also use 雨が苦手 to say "I'm not good with rain" or "I dislike rain". Using 苦手 is a softer, more indirect way to express this sentiment, which can sound more natural in polite conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 雨 (rain), the particle が (the subject marker) and 嫌い (dislike/hate).
Which one should you use?
雨が嫌いです expresses the sentiment in a formal way, while 雨が嫌いだ is an informal way to say "I hate rain". For a more casual, colloquial expression, you can say 雨がダメ, which translates to "Rain is no good."
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 嫌い as an adjective to modify a noun, such as when describing a "rain-hating person", you must add な after it to form 雨が嫌いな.
How do you pronounce it?
ame ga kirai
Did you know?
- The word 嫌い (kirai) shares a root with the word for 'disgust'. In certain contexts, saying 雨が嫌い can sound much more visceral and intense than the English phrase 'I hate rain'.
- Japanese has a specific word 梅雨 ('tsuyu') to describe the entire rainy season. This period is so distinct that it is treated as a seasonal event with its own set of cultural expectations and complaints.
- In many Japanese contexts, being too direct with words like 嫌い can come across as blunt or even rude. Using softer terms to describe a dislike is a key part of maintaining social harmony, or 'wa'.
Examples in context
- 友達: 雨が降ってしまったね。
あなた: うん、雨が嫌いだな。Friend: It's raining, isn't it?
You: Yeah, I hate rain. - 雨が嫌いです。Ame ga kirai desu.I hate rain.
- 雨が嫌いなので、家から出たくありません。Ame ga kirai na no de, ie kara detaku arimasen.Since I hate rain, I don't want to leave the house.
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are looking out the window at a storm.
- 美咲 Misakiあーあ、また雨だね。Aa, mata ame da ne.Oh no, it's raining again.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ。俺は雨が嫌いなんだよ。Honto da. Ore wa ame ga kirai nan da yo.You're right. I hate rain.
- 美咲 Misaki私も！気分が下がるよね。Watashi mo! Kibun ga sagaru yo ne.Me too! It really brings you down, doesn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto早く晴れてほしいな。Hayaku harete hoshii na.I hope it clears up soon.
