What does “kimoi” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “kimoi” to mean ‘disgusting’ 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 “kimoi” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “kimoi”
- Kimokunai: the nai form of “kimoi”
- Kimokatta: the ta form of “kimoi”
- Kimokute: the te form of “kimoi”
- Kimokereba: the ba form of “kimoi”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “kimoi”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kimoi”.
- kimoi – きもい : an i-adjective meaning ‘disgusting’ in Japanese.
Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe something unpleasant in Japanese. It’s also worth mentioning here that this is widely considered as the shortened version of “kimochi warui” which is often translated into English as ‘to feel bad’ or such.
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 “disgusting” in Japanese
kono mushi wa kimoi – この虫はきもい (このむしはきもい)
This insect is disgusting.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “mushi” to say “this insect” in Japanese.
- mushi – 虫 (むし) : a noun meaning ‘insect’ or ‘bug’ 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 “kono mushi” to make the subject in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “kimoi”. 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 “kono kimoi mushi” to mean ‘this disgusting insect’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kimoi” 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 “kimokunai”.
Kimokunai: the nai form of “kimoi”
Below are the definition and meaning of “kimokunai”.
- kimokunai – きもくない : the nai form of “kimoi”, which means ‘not disgusting’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kimokunai” consists of the following two parts:
- kimoku – きもく : one conjugation of “kimoi”. 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 “kimokunai” is literally the nai form of “kimoi” and means ‘not disgusting’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not disgusting” in Japanese
hotaru wa kimokunai – 蛍はきもくない (ほたるはきもくない)
Fireflies are not disgusting.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- hotaru – 蛍 (ほたる) : a noun meaning ‘firefly’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “kimokunai”. When we want to mean ‘not disgusting’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Kimokatta: the ta form of “kimoi”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kimokatta”.
- kimokatta – きもかった : the ta form of “kimoi”, which means ‘was disgusting’, ‘were disgusting’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kimokatta” consists of the following two parts:
- kimokat – きもかっ : one conjugation of “kimoi”. 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 “kimokatta” is literally the ta form of “kimoi” and means ‘was disgusting’, ‘were disgusting’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “was disgusting” in Japanese
watashi no motokare wa kimokatta – 私の元彼はきもかった (わたしのもとかれはきもかった)
My ex-boyfriend was disgusting.
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.
- motokare – 元彼 (もとかれ) : a noun meaning ‘ex-boyfriend’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “kimokatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kimoi”, this ta form is the best option.
Kimokute: the te form of “kimoi”
Below are the definition and meaning of “kimokute”.
- kimokute – きもくて : the te form of “kimoi”, which means ‘disgusting’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kimokute” consists of the following two parts:
- kimoku – きもく : one conjugation of “kimoi”. 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 “kimokute” is literally the te form of “kimoi”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kimokute” is very useful when we want to use “kimoi” 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 “disgusting and” in Japanese
kare wa kimokute uzai – 彼はきもくてうざい (かれはきもくてうざい)
He is disgusting and annoying.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
- uzai – うざい : an i-adjective meaning ‘annoying’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “kimokute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “uzai”. When we want to use “kimoi” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Kimokereba: the ba form of “kimoi”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “kimokereba”.
- kimokereba – きもければ : the ba form of “kimoi”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘disgusting’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kimokereba” consists of the following two parts:
- kimokere – きもけれ : one conjugation of “kimoi”. 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 “kimokereba” is literally the ba form of “kimoi”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kimokereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘disgusting’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “if disgusting” in Japanese
kare ga kimokereba, oshie te kudasai – 彼がきもければ、教えてください (かれがきもければ、おしえてください)
If he is disgusting, please tell me.
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 “kare” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
- oshie – 教え (おしえ) : one conjugation of “oshieru” which means ‘to teach’, ‘to tell’, 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 “kimokute”. 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 Japanese. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “oshie te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “kimokereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kare ga kimokereba”, which means ‘if he is disgusting’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘disgusting’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kimoi” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- kimoi – きもい : an i-adjective meaning ‘disgusting’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
- kimokunai – きもくない : the nai form of “kimoi”, which means ‘not disgusting’ in Japanese.
- kimokatta – きもかった : the ta form of “kimoi”, which means ‘was disgusting’, ‘were disgusting’, or such in Japanese.
- kimokute – きもくて : the te form of “kimoi”, which means ‘disgusting’ in Japanese. When we want to use “kimoi” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- kimokereba – きもければ : the ba form of “kimoi”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘disgusting’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
