How to say "filthy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 汚いきたないi-adjectiveCovers the everyday 'dirty; filthy' sense: surfaces, rooms, clothes, water, or anything visibly unclean. This is the default word when 'filthy' simply describes physical dirt.
- 不潔ふけつna-adjective, nounA noun/na-adjective for unclean, unsanitary states, often with a tone of hygiene concerns — dirty hands, unsanitary conditions, filth that poses a health risk rather than mere mess.
- i-adjectiveRarely the word for literal dirt; its 'filthy' gloss covers the sexual sense of lewd, obscene, or lascivious talk and behavior. It also broadly means unpleasant or sneaky, so avoid it for physical grime.
Use 「汚い」 for general physical dirtiness, 不潔 for unclean or unsanitary conditions, and 「いやらしい」 only when 'filthy' means lewd or obscene.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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