Hidoi is the Japanese word for ‘awful’, explained

What does “hidoi” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “hidoi” to mean ‘awful’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “hidoi” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “hidoi”
  • Example #1: how to say “awful” in Japanese
• Hidokunai: the nai form of “hidoi”
  • Example #2: how to say “not awful” in Japanese
• Hidokatta: the ta form of “hidoi”
  • Example #3: how to say “was awful” in Japanese
• Hidokute: the te form of “hidoi”
  • Example #4: how to say “awful and” in Japanese
• Hidokereba: the ba form of “hidoi”
  • Example #5: how to say “if awful” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “hidoi”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “hidoi”.

• hidoi – 酷い (ひどい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘awful’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe someone or something awful in Japanese.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “awful” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• kareshi – 彼氏 (かれし) : a noun meaning ‘boyfriend’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi no kareshi” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “hidoi”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “watashi no hidoi kareshi” to mean ‘my awful boyfriend’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “hidoi” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “hidokunai”.

Hidokunai: the nai form of “hidoi”

Below are the definition and meaning of “hidokunai”.

• hidokunai – 酷くない (ひどくない) : the nai form of “hidoi”, which means ‘not awful’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hidokunai” consists of the following two parts:

• hidoku – 酷く (ひどく) : one conjugation of “hidoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hidokunai” is literally the nai form of “hidoi” and means ‘not awful’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not awful” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• joukyou – 状況 (じょうきょう) : a noun meaning ‘situation’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

This is a typical usage of “hidokunai”. When we want to mean ‘not awful’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Hidokatta: the ta form of “hidoi”

Below are the definition and meanings of “hidokatta”.

• hidokatta – 酷かった (ひどかった) : the ta form of “hidoi”, which means ‘was awful’, ‘were awful’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hidokatta” consists of the following two parts:

• hidokat – 酷かっ (ひどかっ) : one conjugation of “hidoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hidokatta” is literally the ta form of “hidoi” and means ‘was awful’, ‘were awful’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was awful” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, ‘as well’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works after “kanojo no kareshi” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

This is a typical usage of “hidokatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “hidoi”, this ta form it the best option.

Hidokute: the te form of “hidoi”

Below are the definition and meaning of “hidokute”.

• hidokute – 酷くて (ひどくて) : the te form of “hidoi”, which means ‘awful’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hidokute” consists of the following two parts:

• hidoku – 酷く (ひどく) : one conjugation of “hidoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hidokute” is literally the te form of “hidoi”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “hidokute” is very useful when we want to use “hidoi” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “awful and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• karera – 彼等 (かれら) : a pronoun meaning ‘they’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with the case particle, “no”, to say “their” in Japanese.
• kibishii – 厳しい (きびしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘tough’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “hidokute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kibishii”. When we want to use “hidoi” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Hidokereba: the ba form of “hidoi”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “hidokereba”.

• hidokereba – 酷ければ (ひどければ) : the ba form of “hidoi”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘awful’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hidokereba” consists of the following two parts:

• hidokere – 酷けれ (ひどけれ) : one conjugation of “hidoi”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hidokereba” is literally the ba form of “hidoi”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “hidokereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘awful’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if awful” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “joukyou” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• oshie – 教え (おしえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “oshieru“, which means ‘to tell’, ‘to inform’, or ‘to let someone know’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “hidokute”. In this example, this is used after “oshie” to make its te form, “oshie te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “oshie te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “hidokereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “joukyou ga hidokereba”, which means ‘if the situation is awful’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘awful’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “hidoi” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• hidoi – 酷い (ひどい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘awful’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• hidokunai – 酷くない (ひどくない) : the nai form of “hidoi”, which means ‘not awful’ in Japanese.
• hidokatta – 酷かった (ひどかった) : the ta form of “hidoi”, which means ‘was awful’, ‘were awful’, or such in Japanese.
• hidokute – 酷くて (ひどくて) : the te form of “hidoi”, which means ‘awful’ in Japanese. When we want to use “hidoi” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• hidokereba – 酷ければ (ひどければ) : the ba form of “hidoi”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘awful’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.