居心地が悪い
igokochi ga warui
The Japanese word for uncomfortable is 居心地が悪い (igokochi ga warui).
居心地が悪い is used to describe social or environmental discomfort. It describes feeling awkward in a room or uneasy in a specific atmosphere, rather than describing physical pain.
Meaning: experiencing discomfort (adj)
Which one should you use?
居心地が悪い describes feeling awkward or uneasy in a setting, whereas 不快な is used for sensations that are physically unpleasant or offensive to the senses.
How do you pronounce it?
igokochi ga warui
Did you know?
- The concept of 'atmosphere' (kuuki) is so central to feeling 居心地が悪い that Japanese people often talk about 'reading the air' to avoid such discomfort.
- In social situations, someone feeling 居心地が悪い will often use non-verbal cues like scratching their neck or looking away rather than stating the feeling aloud.
- The phrase 居心地 literally translates to the 'place where one settles' or 'the feeling of one's seat'.
Examples in context
- 好奇の視線と、若干の殺意のこもった視線・・・言うまでもなく居心地が悪いことこの上ない。Curious gazes, gazes carrying a bit of murderous intent…it goes without saying that I couldn't be more uncomfortable.This sentence is useful for expressing an extreme level of being 居心地が悪い due to a specific atmosphere.Tatoeba #76176 by mookeee, translation #327542 by papabear
- このカフェは少し居心地が悪い。Kono kafe wa sukoshi igochi ga warui.This cafe is a little uncomfortable.
- 知らない人ばかりで、居心地が悪いです。Shiranai hito bakari de, igochi ga warui desu.It's uncomfortable because there are only strangers.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are at a quiet, awkward party.
- 結衣 Yuiここ、なんだか居心地が悪いね。Koko, nandaka igogochi ga warui ne.It feels kind of uncomfortable here, doesn't it?
- 蓮 Renそうだね。みんな緊張しているみたいだ。Sou da ne. Minna kinchou shite iru mitai da.You're right. Everyone seems nervous.
- 結衣 Yuiそろそろ帰ってもいいかな？Sorosoro kaette mo ii kana?Do you think we could leave soon?
- 蓮 Ren賛成。僕もそう思っていたよ。Sansei. Boku mo sou omotte ita yo.I agree. I was thinking the same thing.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
