How to say "obscene" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- na-adjective, nounCovers the erotic and pornographic side of 'obscene': sexually explicit content. An abbreviation relating to eroticism, it names sex as the subject matter, not mere indecency or moral dirtiness.
- i-adjectiveA common adjective for lewd, lascivious things: an obscene joke, look, or behavior that feels slyly sexual and distasteful. Its 'filthy' sense also covers mean, underhanded conduct.
- 不潔ふけつna-adjective, nounPrimarily the word for physical filth and uncleanliness; its 'obscene' match is the moral sense — a dirty story or dirty money, something that feels morally unclean rather than sexually explicit.
- na-adjective, nounThe mildest of these words: naughty or sexy rather than truly obscene. Used teasingly or lightly for lewd remarks and behavior, it lacks the force of strong condemnation.
Choose 「エロ」 for erotic or pornographic content, 「いやらしい」 for lewd, distasteful suggestiveness, 不潔 for moral dirtiness such as dirty stories or money, and 「エッチ」 for mild, naughty sexiness.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
