ぶさいく
busaiku
The phrase "you are ugly" in Japanese is ぶさいく (busaiku).
This phrase is used to tell someone that their physical appearance is not attractive.
How does it change in a sentence?
Using the word alone as ぶさいく makes the phrase blunt and highly informal. You can make the phrase grammatically polite by adding です (desu) to the end, resulting in ぶさいくです, though the phrase remains an insult.
How do you pronounce it?
busaiku
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific term 不細工 which shares the same pronunciation as ぶさいく but literally refers to 'poor craftsmanship' or a 'clumsy worker'.
- There is a Japanese cultural phenomenon called ギャップ萌え where a person being ぶさいく in one way but unexpectedly charming in another is considered highly attractive.
- To avoid the directness of ぶさいく, Japanese speakers often use the phrase 個性的 meaning 'unique' or 'individualistic' as a polite euphemism for someone who is not attractive.
Examples in context
- あなたは容姿に恵まれていないですね。You are not blessed with good looks, are you?
- お前、ブスだよ。You are ugly.
- お前って見た目にはかなり難があるな。Your appearance is quite lacking, isn't it?
- おまえって顔がちょっとね…。Your face is a bit… you know.
- あいつ、本当にぶさいくだ。Aitsu, hontou ni busaiku da.That guy is really ugly.
Example conversation
Two siblings are arguing in the living room.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮、そんなぶさいくな顔しないでよ。Ren, sonna busaiku na kao shinaide yo.Ren, don't make such an ugly face.
- 蓮 Ren美咲こそ、表情がぶさいくだよ。Misaki koso, hyoujou ga busaiku da yo.Misaki, your expression is the ugly one.
- 美咲 Misakiひどい！全然そんなことないもん。Hidoi! Zenzen sonna koto nai mon.That's mean! That's not true at all.
- 蓮 Renもういいよ、放っておいて。Mou ii yo, hootte oite.Whatever, just leave me alone.
