Kayui is the Japanese word for ‘itchy’, explained

What does “kayui” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kayui” to mean ‘itchy’ 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 this word together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “kayui” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “kayui”
  • Example #1: how to say “itchy” in Japanese
• Kayukunai: the nai form of “kayui”
  • Example #2: how to say “not itchy” in Japanese
• Kayukatta: the ta form of “kayui”
  • Example #3: how to say “was itchy” in Japanese
• Kayukute: the te form of “kayui”
  • Example #4: how to say “itchy and thus” in Japanese
• Kayukereba: the ba form of “kayui”
  • Example #5: how to say “if itchy” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “kayui”

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

• kayui – 痒い (かゆい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘itchy’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective when they want to rub parts of their bodies.

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

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• senaka – 背中 (せなか) : a noun meaning ‘back’ in Japanese.
• 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 “senaka” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “kayui”. In the 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 “kayui senaka” to mean ‘my itchy back’ in Japanese.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kayui” 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 “kayukunai”.

Kayukunai: the nai form of “kayui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kayukunai”.

• kayukunai – 痒くない (かゆくない) : the nai form of “kayui”, which means ‘not itchy’ in Japanese.

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

• kayuku – 痒く (かゆく) : one conjugation of “kayui”. 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 “kayukunai” is literally the nai form of “kayui” and means ‘not itchy’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• me – 目 (め) : a noun meaning ‘eye’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “me” to make the subject in the sentence.

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

Kayukatta: the ta form of “kayui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kayukatta”.

• kayukatta – 痒かった (かゆかった) : the ta form of “kayui”, which means ‘was itchy’, ‘were itchy’, or such in Japanese.

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

• kayukat – 痒かっ (かゆかっ) : one conjugation of “kayui”. 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 “kayukatta” is literally the ta form of “kayui” and means ‘was itchy’, ‘were itchy’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kao – 顔 (かお) : a noun meaning ‘face’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’. In the example, this works after “kao” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

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

Kayukute: the te form of “kayui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kayukute”.

• kayukute – 痒くて (かゆくて) : the te form of “kayui”, which means ‘itchy’ in Japanese.

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

• kayuku – 痒く (かゆく) : one conjugation of “kayui”. 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 “kayukute” is literally the te form of “kayui”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make a cause-and-effect structure in a sentence. So, “kayukute” is very useful when we want to implement the structure into a sentence. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “itchy and thus” 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.
• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
• kaku – 掻く (かく) : a verb meaning ‘to rub’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kayukute”. In this example, it works as a part of the clause, “senaka ga kayukute”, which states the cause why the speaker sometimes rubs his back. When we want to make a cause-and-effect structure in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘itchy’, this te form is a good option.

Kayukereba: the ba form of “kayui”

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

• kayukereba – 痒ければ (かゆければ) : the ba form of “kayui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘itchy’ in Japanese.

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

• kayukere – 痒けれ (かゆけれ) : one conjugation of “kayui”. 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 “kayukereba” is literally the ba form of “kayui”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kayukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘itchy’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• megusuri – 目薬 (めぐすり) : a noun meaning ‘eye drops’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “megusuri” to make the object in the second clause.
• tsukat – 使っ (つかっ) : one conjugation of the verb, “tsukau“, which means ‘to use’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “kayukute”. In this example, this is used after “tsukat” to make its te form, “tsukat 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 “tsukat te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

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

Summary

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

• kayui – 痒い (かゆい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘itchy’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• kayukunai – 痒くない (かゆくない) : the nai form of “kayui”, which means ‘not itchy’ in Japanese.
• kayukatta – 痒かった (かゆかった) : the ta form of “kayui”, which means ‘was itchy’, ‘were itchy’, or such in Japanese.
• kayukute – 痒くて (かゆくて) : the te form of “kayui”, which means ‘itchy’ in Japanese. When we want to make a cause-and-effect structure in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘itchy’, this te form is a good option.
• kayukereba – 痒ければ (かゆければ) : the ba form of “kayui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘itchy’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.