醜く見える
minikuku mieru
The phrase "you look ugly" in Japanese is 醜く見える (minikuku mieru).
醜く見える is a statement used to tell someone that their physical appearance is not attractive. Note that if you want to express that someone's appearance or behavior is embarrassing or unseemly, you might instead use the informal term みっともない.
How do you pronounce it?
minikuku mieru
Did you know?
- While 醜い describes physical ugliness, Japanese speakers often use 不細工 'busaiku' to describe someone who is not traditionally handsome or beautiful, which literally means 'clumsy work' by a craftsman.
- Japanese culture often uses the word 個性的 'koseiteki', meaning 'unique' or 'individualistic', as a polite euphemism to avoid saying someone looks ugly.
- While English speakers might say 'You look ugly' to a person, using 醜く見える directly to someone's face in Japan is an extreme social taboo that could end a relationship instantly.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are arguing during a fight.
- 結衣 Yuiそんなに怒った顔をしないで。醜く見えるわ。sonna ni okotta kao o shinaide. minikuku mieru wa.Stop making such an angry face. You look ugly.
- 蓮 Renひどいな。君こそひどい顔をしているぞ。hidoi na. kimi koso hidoi kao o shite iru zo.That's mean. You're the one making a terrible face.
- 結衣 Yui本当よ。鏡を見て、醜く見えることに気づいて。hontō yo. kagami o mite, minikuku mieru koto ni kizuite.I'm serious. Look in the mirror and realize you look ugly.
- 蓮 Renもういい。もう話したくない。mō ii. mō hanashitakunai.Enough. I don't want to talk anymore.
