腐った
kusatta
The English word 'rotten' is translated into Japanese as 腐った (kusatta). If unsure, use 腐った. Wiktionary also lists 腐朽した (fukyū shita).
Meaning: decayed, gone bad (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 腐った | kusatta |
| 腐朽した | fukyū shita |
腐った is used to describe things that have gone bad, such as food. It can also be used metaphorically to describe people or systems that are morally corrupt.
Which one should you use?
腐った is the standard way to describe food or general rot. In contrast, 腐朽した (fukyū shita) is a more technical and formal term used specifically for the decomposition of organic matter, such as wood or plants. For an even more intense sense of corruption in a formal context, use 腐敗した.
How do you pronounce it?
kusatta
Did you know?
- In Japanese slang, 腐った can be used in the term 腐女子 (fujoshi), which literally means 'rotten girl'. It refers to women who enjoy certain types of fictional romance, suggesting their tastes have 'decayed' or become deviant.
- If you describe a person as 腐っている (kusatte iru) in a casual setting, you might actually be calling them a 'defeatist' rather than an evil person.
- Japanese has a specific word 熟成 (jukusei) for 'controlled rotting', such as in aged steak or fermented cheese. This describes a process of decay that is intentionally managed to improve flavor.
Examples in context
- 何か腐った臭いがします。I smell something rotten.This sentence is useful for describing a rotten smell using 腐った.Tatoeba #187895 by bunbuku, translation #25034 by CK
- この食べ物は腐った匂いがする。This food smells rotten.This sentence is useful for describing rotten food using 腐った.Tatoeba #221055 by bunbuku, translation #58377 by CK
- バスケットの中にはかなりたくさんの腐ったリンゴがあった。Quite a lot of rotten apples were in the basket.This sentence is useful for describing rotten apples using 腐った.Tatoeba #198220 by bunbuku, translation #35412 by mailohilohi
- このリンゴはすでに腐っています。This apple is already rotten.
- 腐敗した政治体制Rotten political system
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are checking the refrigerator together.
- 美咲 Misakiこの卵、まだ食べられるかな？Kono tamago, mada taberareru kana?I wonder if these eggs are still edible?
- 蓮 Renうわ、これはもう腐ったと思うよ。Uwa, kore wa mō kusatta to omou yo.Wow, I think this one is already rotten.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ。すぐに捨てなきゃ。Hontō da. Sugu ni sutenakya.You're right. I have to throw it away immediately.
- 蓮 Renうん、気をつけて捨ててね。Un, ki o tsukete sutete ne.Yeah, be careful when you toss it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rotten” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
