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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "ugly (thing)" in Japanese?
醜い
Minikui
In Japanese, "ugly (thing)" is 醜い (Minikui).
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Pronunciation
醜い is written using kanji. Romanised as Minikui, it sounds roughly like "mee-nee-koo-ee" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Minikui (醜い) is an i-adjective for ugly appearance. When applied to objects or designs it is more neutral, but using it about a person is considered impolite.
Example sentence
あの建物は少し醜いです。
Ano tatemono wa sukoshi minikui desu.
That building is a little ugly.
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How to remember 醜い
Minikui sounds awkward and harsh when spoken. The word itself matches its negative meaning through its sound.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 醜い
How do you pronounce 醜い?
醜い is romanised as Minikui. Say it roughly like "mee-nee-koo-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 醜い formal or casual?
醜い is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 醜い written in Japanese?
醜い is written using kanji. Minikui (醜い) is an i-adjective for ugly appearance.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Ugly (thing)" in other languages
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