Japanese word

浅ましい

Pronunciation

Romajiasamashii

Meaning

  • i-adjectivedespicable

Example

お金のために人をだますのは浅ましいです。o kane no ta me ni hito o da ma su no wa asa ma shi i de su

Deceiving people for money is despicable.

Illustration for 浅ましい (despicable)

More examples

失敗した友人を笑うなんて、なんて浅ましいのでしょう。ship pai shi ta yū jin o wara u na n te na n te asa ma shi i no de shō

How despicable it is to laugh at a friend who has failed.

Core concept

Describes conduct so morally low that it invites contempt rather than sympathy.

Common phrases

  • 浅ましい行為asa ma shi i kō i

    a despicable act

  • 浅ましい考えasa ma shi i kanga e

    a despicable thought

  • 浅ましい欲望asa ma shi i yoku bō

    a base desire

Similar words

卑しいiyashii: Describes a selfish or greedy motive that shows a lack of dignity.
さもしいsamoshii: Describes an unworthy act or motive that appears mean and disgraceful.

Definition in Japanese

欲深さや卑劣さが目立ち、人として軽蔑に値するさま。yoku fuka sa ya hi retsu sa ga me da chi hito to shi te kei betsu ni atai su ru sa ma

Word origin

浅ましい (asamashii) is the modern form of the classical adjective 浅まし (asamashi), which expressed strong astonishment and later developed the sense of deplorable or despicable.

Usage tips

  • In modern Japanese, 浅ましい (asamashii) often judges a motive or act, especially when greed makes conduct disgraceful, rather than merely describing an unhappy condition.

Other meanings

  • shamefuli-adjective
  • meani-adjective
  • miserablei-adjective

Opposites

  • 気高いkedakainoblei-adjective
  • 高潔kōketsuuprightna-adjective

Related words

  • 浅ましさasamashisabasenessnoun

Word lists with this word