大嫌い
daikirai[da̠ikʲiɾa̠i]
The English phrase "I hate them" is expressed in Japanese as 大嫌い (daikirai).
This phrase is a strong expression of intense dislike or hatred toward a group of people or things. In Japanese, the subject (I) and the object (them) are often omitted when the context makes it clear who is being discussed.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the expression polite, use 大嫌いです. For a casual tone, use the form 大嫌いだ.
How do you pronounce it?
daikirai
Did you know?
- While 大嫌い expresses strong dislike, it is frequently used by children or partners in a playful way to mean 'I love you so much it hurts' or 'you are annoying but I love you'.
- To avoid the harshness of 大嫌い, Japanese speakers often use the phrase 苦手 nigate, which literally means 'weak at' or 'not good with', to politely signal that they dislike someone.
- Using 大嫌い toward a person can be socially much more explosive than saying 'I don't like them' in English. In Japanese culture, where harmony is prized, such bluntness is often perceived as a permanent severance of the relationship.
Examples in context
- 野菜は、大嫌いです。Yasai wa, daikirai desu.I hate vegetables.
- あいつら、本当に大嫌いだ。Aitsura, hontō ni daikirai da.I really hate those guys.
- 雨の日は大嫌い。Ame no hi wa daikirai.I hate rainy days.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a bad movie they just watched.
- 美咲 Misakiあの映画、どうだった？Ano eiga, dō datta?How was that movie?
- 健太 Kentaあんなストーリー、大嫌いだよ。Anna sutōrī, daikirai da yo.I hate that kind of story.
- 美咲 Misaki私も同じ意見。Watashi mo onaji iken.I feel the same way.
- 健太 Kentaもう、帰ろう。Mō, kaerō.Let's just go home.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 大嫌い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
