Nikui is the Japanese word for ‘to hate’, explained

What does “nikui” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “nikui” often to mean ‘to hate’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, songs, novels, manga, anime, and the like. 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 “nikui” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “nikui”
  • Example #1: how to say “hate” in Japanese
• Nikukunai: the nai form of “nikui”
  • Example #2: how to say “not hate” in Japanese
• Nikukatta: the ta form of “nikui”
  • Example #3: how to say “hated” in Japanese
• Nikukute: the te form of “nikui”
  • Example #4: how to say “hateful and” in Japanese
• Nikukereba: the ba form of “nikui”
  • Example #5: how to say “if hateful” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “nikui”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “nikui”.

• nikui – 憎い (にくい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hateful’ in Japanese, but quite often translated into English as ‘to hate’. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘lovely’ or such in Japanese.

Grammatically this is an i-adjective, but quite often translated into English as ‘to hate’. Parts of speech are not always the same in different languages. It’s also worth mentioning here that Japanese native speakers sometimes use this i-adjective to describe something lovely or admirable. Hate and love are opposite emotions, but sometimes those are very close in Japanese.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “hate” 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.
• imouto – 妹 (いもうと) : a noun meaning ‘little sister’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese 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 “imouto” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nikui”. It works as the complement in the Japanese sentence, but has been translated into English as ‘to hate’. Like other adjectives, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “watashi no nikui imouto” to mean ‘my hateful little sister’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “nikui” 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 “nikukunai”.

Nikukunai: the nai form of “nikui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nikukunai”.

• nikukunai – 憎くない (にくくない) : the nai form of “nikui”, which means ‘not to hate’, ‘not hateful’, ‘not lovely’, or such in Japanese.

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

• nikuku – 憎く (にくく) : one conjugation of “nikui”. 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 “nikukunai” is literally the nai form of “nikui” and means ‘not to hate’, ‘not hateful’, ‘not lovely’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.

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

Nikukatta: the ta form of “nikui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nikukatta”.

• nikukatta – 憎かった (にくかった) : the ta form of “nikui”, which means ‘hated’, ‘was hateful’, ‘was lovely’, or such in Japanese.

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

• nikukat – 憎かっ (にくかっ) : one conjugation of “nikui”. 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 “nikukatta” is literally the ta form of “nikui” and means ‘hated’, ‘was hateful’, ‘was lovely’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “hated” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• 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 “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
• mukashi – 昔 (むかし) : a noun meaning ‘past’ 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 “nikukatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “nikui”, this ta form is the best option.

Nikukute: the te form of “nikui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nikukute”.

• nikukute – 憎くて (にくくて) : the te form of “nikui”, which means ‘to hate’, ‘hateful’, ‘lovely’, or such in Japanese.

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

• nikuku – 憎く (にくく) : one conjugation of “nikui”. 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 “nikukute” is literally the te form of “nikui”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “nikukute” is very useful when we want to use “nikui” 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 “hateful and” 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.
• uzai – うざい : an i-adjective meaning ‘annoying’ in Japanese.
• hito – 人 (ひと) : a noun meaning ‘person’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “nikukute uzai hito” to make it sound polite.

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

Nikukereba: the ba form of “nikui”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “nikukereba”.

• nikukereba – 憎ければ (にくければ) : the ba form of “nikui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to hate’, ‘hateful’, ‘lovely’, or such in Japanese.

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

• nikukere – 憎けれ (にくけれ) : one conjugation of “nikui”. 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 “nikukereba” is literally the ba form of “nikui”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “nikukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to hate’, ‘hateful’, ‘lovely’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• mushi shi – 無視し (むしし) : one conjugation of the verb, “mushi suru”, which means ‘to ignore’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “nikukute”. In this example, this is used after “mushi shi” to make its te form, “mushi shi 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 “mushi shi te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

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

Summary

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

• nikui – 憎い (にくい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hateful’ in Japanese, but quite often translated into English as ‘to hate’. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘lovely’ or such in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• nikukunai – 憎くない (にくくない) : the nai form of “nikui”, which means ‘not to hate’, ‘not hateful’, ‘not lovely’, or such in Japanese.
• nikukatta – 憎かった (にくかった) : the ta form of “nikui”, which means ‘hated’, ‘was hateful’, ‘was lovely’, or such in Japanese.
• nikukute – 憎くて (にくくて) : the te form of “nikui”, which means ‘to hate’, ‘hateful’, ‘lovely’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “nikui” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• nikukereba – 憎ければ (にくければ) : the ba form of “nikui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to hate’, ‘hateful’, ‘lovely’, or such in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.