Japanese word

最低

Pronunciation

Romajisaitei

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveworst

Example

この映画は最低です。ko no ei ga wa sai tei de su

This movie is the worst.

Illustration for 最低 (worst)

More examples

友達を困らせて笑うのは、最低です。tomo dachi o koma ra se te wara u no wa sai tei de su

Laughing after making a friend upset is the worst.

Core concept

It presents something as reaching the bottom of a scale, especially the bottom of a scale of quality or approval.

Common phrases

  • 最低な人sai tei na hito

    the worst person

  • 最低な態度sai tei na tai do

    the worst attitude

  • 最低な行動sai tei na kō dō

    the worst behavior

Similar words

最悪saiaku: Describes something as the worst in quality or acceptability, often with strong disapproval.

Definition in Japanese

物事の質や状態が最も劣っているさま。mono goto no shitsu ya jō tai ga motto mo oto tte i ru sa ma

Word origin

最低 (saitei) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 最 (sai, "most") and 低 (tei, "low"); the idea of being lowest naturally develops into the conversational sense "the worst".

Usage tips

  • 最低 (saitei) has both a neutral scale-related use and a strong conversational use, so a phrase about a score or amount may mean "lowest," whereas a reaction to a movie may mean "the worst".

Other meanings

  • lowestna-adjective
  • minimumnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word