Minikui is the Japanese word for ‘ugly’, explained

What does “minikui” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “minikui” sometimes to mean ‘ugly’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. 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 use “minikui” more properly.

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “minikui”
  • Example #1: how to say “ugly” in Japanese
• Minikukunai: the nai form of “minikui”
  • Example #2: how to say “not ugly” in Japanese
• Minikukatta: the ta form of “minikui”
  • Example #3: how to say “was ugly” in Japanese
• Minikukute: the te form of “minikui”
  • Example #4: how to say “ugly and” in Japanese
• Minikukereba: the ba form of “minikui”
  • Example #5: how to say “if ugly” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “minikui”

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

• minikui – 醜い (みにくい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘ugly’ 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 “ugly” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works in front of “minikui” to emphasize its meaning.

This is a typical usage of “minikui”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, this can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘ugly’ in Japanese, this i-adjective is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “minikui” 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 “minikukunai”.

Minikukunai: the nai form of “minikui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “minikukunai”.

• minikukunai – 醜くない (みにくくない) : the nai form of “minikui”, which means ‘not ugly’ in Japanese.

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

• minikuku – 醜く (みにくく) : one conjugation of “minikui”. 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 “minikukunai” is literally the nai form of “minikui” and means ‘not ugly’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• 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.
• imouto – 妹 (いもうと) : a noun meaning ‘little sister’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

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

Minikukatta: the ta form of “minikui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “minikukatta”.

• minikukatta – 醜かった (みにくかった) : the ta form of “minikui”, which means ‘was ugly’, ‘were ugly’, or such in Japanese.

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

• minikukat – 醜かっ (みにくかっ) : one conjugation of “minikui”. 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 “minikukatta” is literally the ta form of “minikui” and means ‘was ugly’, ‘were ugly’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was ugly” 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’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
• mukasi – 昔 (むかし) : a noun meaning ‘the past’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “before” in Japanese.

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

Minikukute: the te form of “minikui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “minikukute”.

• minikukute – 醜くて (みにくくて) : the te form of “minikui”, which means ‘ugly’ in Japanese.

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

• minikuku – 醜く (みにくく) : one conjugation of “minikui”. 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 “minikukute” is literally the te form of “minikui”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “minikukute” is very useful when we want to use “minikui” 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 “ugly and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• mazushii – 貧しい (まずしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘poor’ in Japanese.

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

Minikukereba: the ba form of “minikui”

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

• minikukereba – 醜ければ (みにくければ) : the ba form of “minikui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘ugly’ in Japanese.

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

• minikukere – 醜けれ (みにくけれ) : one conjugation of “minikui”. 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 “minikukereba” is literally the ba form of “minikui”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “minikukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘ugly’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kokoro – 心 (こころ) : a noun meaning ‘heart’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• 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 “kokoro” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• anata – あなた : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.

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

Summary

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

• minikui – 醜い (みにくい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘ugly’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• minikukunai – 醜くない (みにくくない) : the nai form of “minikui”, which means ‘not ugly’ in Japanese.
• minikukatta – 醜かった (みにくかった) : the ta form of “minikui”, which means ‘was ugly’, ‘were ugly’, or such in Japanese.
• minikukute – 醜くて (みにくくて) : the te form of “minikui”, which means ‘ugly’ in Japanese. When we want to use “minikui” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• minikukereba – 醜ければ (みにくければ) : the ba form of “minikui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘ugly’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.