嫌う|きらうkirau[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto hate; to dislike; to loathe; to abhor
    彼女かのじょは人前ひとまえで話はなしをするのを嫌きらう。↗
    She detests speaking in public.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto avoid
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto disregard; to act without regard (for)
  4. godan verb, transitive verbto be bad for (e.g. dust in machinery)
Conjugation
Dictionary form嫌う(きらう)
Polite (masu)嫌います(きらいます)
Negative (nai)嫌わない(きらわない)
polite (masen)嫌いません(きらいません)
classical zu / nu嫌わず・嫌わぬ(きらわず・きらわぬ)
Past (ta)嫌った(きらった)
polite (mashita)嫌いました(きらいました)
Past negative (nakatta)嫌わなかった(きらわなかった)
polite (masen deshita)嫌いませんでした(きらいませんでした)
Te form嫌って(きらって)
Potential嫌える(きらえる)
Passive嫌われる(きらわれる)
Causative嫌わせる(きらわせる)
Causative passive嫌わせられる・嫌わされる(きらわせられる・きらわされる)
Conditional (ba)嫌えば(きらえば)
tara嫌ったら(きらったら)
Volitional嫌おう(きらおう)
polite (mashou)嫌いましょう(きらいましょう)
Imperative嫌え(きらえ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym嫌がるいやがるNeutralShows dislike outwardly in attitude or behaviour, mostly about other people, as in 「子供が注射を嫌がる」; 「嫌う」 is about feeling dislike in one's heart.
  • Synonym憎悪ぞうおWrittenNoun in written/formal prose for hatred or deep loathing; 「嫌う」 can be mild or strong but is generally not as intense as this.
  • Synonym嫌悪けんおWrittenNoun in written/formal prose for disgust or repulsion, as in 「自己嫌悪」; 「嫌う」 is more colloquial.
  • Synonym憎むにくむNeutralTo hate with hostility; 「嫌う」 covers everything from mere dislike to strong aversion.
  • SynonymいやCasualColloquial adjectival noun for dislike or unwillingness; 「嫌う」 is a verb.
  • Related毛嫌いけぎらいNeutralDisliking something for no particular reason, as in 「数学を毛嫌いする」; 「嫌う」 does not stress the absence of a reason.
  • Antonym好むこのむNeutralOpposite of 「嫌う」 in likes and dislikes: to like or prefer.
  • Antonym愛するあいするNeutralThe emotional opposite of 「嫌う」: to love.
  • Antonym好きすきNeutralOpposite of 「嫌う」 in likes and dislikes: to like; an adjectival noun.

Use 「嫌う」 for feeling dislike or aversion in one's heart. Use 「嫌がる」 when the dislike shows in someone's behaviour, 「嫌」 in colloquial speech, 「憎む」 or 「憎悪」 for hatred, and 「毛嫌い」 for dislike without reason. Antonyms: 「好む」, 「好き」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. ある人ひとや物ものを嫌いやがる。ある事ことをするのを嫌いやがる。
  2. (「きらわれる」の形かたちで、スポーツにおいて比喩的ひゆてきに)惜おしくも失敗しっぱいする。運うんに恵めぐまれずうまくいかない。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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

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