Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 醜い | minikui | [mʲiɲ̟ikɯ̟i] (narrow) |
| 見苦しい | migurushii | [mʲiɡɯ̟ɾɯ̟ɕii] (narrow) |
| 格好悪い | kakkowarui | [ka̠k̚ko̞β̞a̠ɾɯ̟i] (narrow) [ka̠k̚ko̞ːβ̞a̠ɾɯ̟i] (narrow) |
醜い is used to describe something that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing. It can be applied to physical appearances, such as a person or animal, but it is also used to describe abstract concepts, like an ugly truth or an ugly fight.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 見苦しい literally means 'painful to look at', as it is composed of the verb 見 (to see) and the adjective 苦しい (painful/difficult).
Which one should you use?
The different forms of 'ugly' in Japanese are used for distinct contexts. 醜い refers to physical or abstract ugliness. 見苦しい is used specifically to describe behavior or a situation that is unsightly, shameful or unpleasant to witness. 格好悪い is used to describe someone or something that looks uncool, awkward or socially embarrassing.
How does it change in a sentence?
醜い is an i-adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
minikui
Did you know?
- Using 醜い to describe a person's face is considered extremely harsh and blunt in Japanese culture, often more so than the English word 'ugly'.
- The term 格好悪い is the direct opposite of 格好いい (kakkōii), which is the standard way to say someone is 'cool' or 'stylish'.
- The adjective 醜い can be used to describe 'ugly' emotions like jealousy or greed, shifting the focus from the eyes to the heart.
Examples in context
- 私を醜いと思いますか。Do you think I'm ugly?This sentence is useful for asking if someone finds you ugly using 醜い.Tatoeba #1533048 by bunbuku, translation #953230 by CK
- １人の醜い男が私の家の戸をたたいた。An ugly man knocked on my door.This sentence is useful for describing an ugly man using 醜い.Tatoeba #235739 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #73119 by CK
- 醜い猫が私の椅子に座ったんだよ！An ugly cat sat in my chair!This sentence is useful for describing an ugly cat using 醜い.Tatoeba #9929561 by Luornu, translation #9929567 by Luornu
- 彼女の服装は醜いです。Her clothing is ugly.
- その絵は醜悪です。That painting is ugly.
- あの人ブサイクだけど、性格はいいよ。That person is ugly, but they have a good personality.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are looking at a poorly drawn sketch.
- 結衣 Yuiこの絵はちょっと醜いね。Kono e wa chotto minikui ne.This drawing is a bit ugly.
- 蓮 Ren本当にそうだね。下手すぎるよ。Hontō ni sō da ne. Hetasugiru yo.You're right. It's too poorly drawn.
- 結衣 Yui醜いけど、なんだか面白いね。Minikui kedo, nandaka omoshiroi ne.It's ugly, but somehow interesting.
- 蓮 Ren確かに、不思議な魅力があるよ。Tashika ni, fushigi na miryoku ga aru yo.True, it has a strange charm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugly” translations and entries 醜い, 見苦しい, 格好悪い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
