煙たい・烟たい|けむたいkemutai[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
けぶたいkebutai
Which spelling to use
煙たい煙たい is the most common spelling. Use it for both the literal smoky sense and the figurative senses of awkward, uncomfortable, or ill at ease.
烟たい烟たい has the same meanings as 煙たい but is rarely used; learners will seldom see it and should normally choose 煙たい.
Definitions
  1. i-adjectivesmoky
  2. i-adjectiveawkward; uncomfortable; ill at ease
    あの人ひとは煙けむたい。↗
    I feel awkward in his presence.
Conjugation
Plain form煙たい(けむたい)
Polite (desu)煙たいです(けむたいです)
Negative (kunai)煙たくない(けむたくない)
polite (ku arimasen)煙たくありません(けむたくありません)
Past (katta)煙たかった(けむたかった)
Past negative (kunakatta)煙たくなかった(けむたくなかった)
Te form (kute)煙たくて(けむたくて)
Adverbial (ku)煙たく(けむたく)
Conditional (kereba)煙たければ(けむたければ)
kattara煙たかったら(けむたかったら)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Related気まずいきまずいNeutralAn adjective for awkwardness between people (「気まずい雰囲気」); it stresses a strained relationship, while 「煙たい」 stresses being overawed by someone and wanting to keep away.
  • Related居心地が悪いいごこちがわるいNeutralA set phrase for not feeling at ease where you are (「居心地が悪い部屋」); the emphasis is mainly on the surroundings or situation making you uneasy.
  • Antonym清々しいすがすがしいNeutralMeans feeling refreshed and clear-headed (「清々しい朝」); it is the opposite of the smoky, stifling 「煙たい」.
  • Antonym爽やかさわやかNeutralMeans fresh and refreshing (「爽やかな風」); it is the opposite of 「煙たい」.

Use 「煙たい」 for smoke that stings or for someone who makes you wary and want to keep away (「煙たい部屋」「上司を煙たがる」); for an awkward relationship say 「気まずい」, for an uncomfortable place say 「居心地が悪い」; the opposite is 「爽やか」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 煙けむりで呼吸こきゅうしづらい。目めが痛いたい。
  2. 近ちかくにいる人間にんげんだが威圧いあつ感かんがあったり、しばしば忠告ちゅうこくを与あたえたりするので近寄ちかよりがたい。親したしみにくい。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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

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