Japanese word

嫌う

Pronunciation

Romajikirau

Meaning

  • verbdislike

Example

私は辛い食べ物を嫌います。watashi wa tsura i ta be mono o kira i ma su

I dislike spicy food.

Illustration for 嫌う (dislike)

More examples

彼は人前で話すことを嫌います。kare wa hito mae de hana su ko to o kira i ma su

He dislikes speaking in front of people.

Core concept

It expresses a negative reaction in which a person or thing is regarded as unwelcome rather than simply unnoticed.

Common phrases

  • 人を嫌うhito o kira u

    dislike people

  • 争いを嫌うaraso i o kira u

    dislike conflict

Similar words

嫌がるiyagaru: To show dislike or reluctance toward a person, thing, or action.
憎むnikumu: To feel intense hatred toward a person or thing.

Definition in Japanese

人や物事を好ましくないと感じ、避けたいと思う。hito ya mono goto o kono ma shi ku na i to kan ji sa ke ta i to omo u

Word origin

嫌う (kirau, "to dislike") is a native Japanese verb whose older form is きらふ (kirafu); it is related to 嫌い (kirai, "disliked") in form and meaning.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 嫌いです (kirai desu) is often used to express a personal dislike, while 嫌う (kirau) appears more often in formal or written descriptions.

Other meanings

  • hateverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word