いやらしい・嫌らしい・厭らしいiyarashii

JLPT N1approx.Common
やらしいyarashii
Which spelling to use
嫌らしい嫌らしい is the more common of the two kanji-and-kana spellings and the recommended choice for beginners; however, this word is usually written in kana alone.
厭らしい厭らしい is a less common kanji-and-kana variant of 嫌らしい. Beginners should use 嫌らしい instead rather than choosing this spelling.
Definitions
  1. i-adjectiveunpleasant; disagreeable; nasty
    彼女かのじょの厚あつ化粧けしょうが嫌いやらしい。↗
    Her thick makeup is disgusting.
  2. i-adjectivelewd; lascivious; obscene; filthy; dirty
Conjugation
Plain formいやらしい
Polite (desu)いやらしいです
Negative (kunai)いやらしくない
polite (ku arimasen)いやらしくありません
Past (katta)いやらしかった
Past negative (kunakatta)いやらしくなかった
Te form (kute)いやらしくて
Adverbial (ku)いやらしく
Conditional (kereba)いやらしければ
kattaraいやらしかったら

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym不愉快ふゆかいNeutralA noun for feeling displeased or unhappy; broad in range, with no lewd sense.
  • Synonym忌まわしいいまわしいWrittenA written word for the abhorrent or ominous, as in 「忌まわしい事件」; carries a dark, sinister shade.
  • SynonymエロCasualA loanword for the erotic or horny; common in casual speech.
  • Synonym厭わしいいとわしいWrittenA written word for something so detestable you want to keep your distance; carries no lewd nuance.
  • Related下品げひんNeutralAn everyday noun for vulgar, tasteless speech and behaviour.
  • Related低俗ていぞくWrittenA written noun for lowbrow, trashy content, as in 「低俗な番組」.
  • RelatedはしたないNeutralFor improper, immodest conduct, said mostly of women.
  • Related忌々しいいまいましいNeutralFor things that infuriate or vex you, as in 「忌々しい雨」; centres on irritation, whereas 「嫌らしい」 leans toward lewdness or plain unpleasantness.
  • Related卑猥ひわいWrittenA noun for lewd, indecent speech and behaviour; written in flavour and strong in tone.
  • Related淫らみだらWrittenA written word for licentious, wanton conduct; stresses uncontrolled, immodest behaviour.
  • RelatedいかがわしいNeutralCovers anything suspicious or lewdly improper, with a moral taint, as in 「いかがわしい店」.
  • RelatedわいせつWrittenA noun for obscenity, often in legal usage, as in 「猥褻物」.
  • RelatedえげつないCasualColloquial, with a Kansai flavour, for mean, blatant tactics that put people off.
  • Related野卑やひWrittenA written noun for coarse vulgarity; stresses lack of breeding.
  • Related淫猥いんわいWrittenA written noun for obscenity; rarely used and close in sense to 「猥褻」.
  • Related汚らわしいけがらわしいWrittenA written word for something filthy and repugnant, charged with strong moral disgust.
  • Related憎々しいにくにくしいNeutralFor hateful, detestable things, as in 「憎々しい態度」; centres on inviting hatred.
  • Antonym清らかきよらかNeutralAntonym: pure and unsullied, the opposite of the lewd 「嫌らしい」.

Use 「嫌らしい」 for something lewd or simply unpleasant, as in 「嫌らしい目つき」. For sheer irritation pick 「忌々しい」, for vulgar tastelessness 「下品」, for the erotic 「エロ」, for obscenity 「猥褻」, and for blatant, off-putting tactics 「えげつない」; 「清らか」 is the pure opposite.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 態度たいど・様子ようすが不愉快ふゆかいに感かんじられるさま。
  2. 性的せいてきに露骨ろこつなさま。
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

Say it right, write it right

Core lookup works fully offline, with cloud pronunciation and one-tap save & review. Free, no sign-up.

Free downloadWindowsFree downloadmacOSDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
MobileiOS / Android

Android

QR code for the Google Play pageGet it on Google Play

Scan it with your Android phone to install, or search for “Tomoshi” on Google Play.

iOS

QR code for the App Store pageDownload on the App Store

Scan it with your iPhone camera to install, or search for “Tomoshi” in the App Store.

Install the browser extensionLook words up on any web page · Chrome / Edge / Safari

Screenshot of a Tomoshi lookup resultScreenshot of Tomoshi lookup results on a phone

Windows macOS Chrome / Edge / Safari extension iOS / Android