由々しい・忌々しい|ゆゆしいyuyushii[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
由々しい由々しい is the most common written form; its kanji are used phonetically, and beginners should choose it.
忌々しい忌々しい is rarely used. Learners may encounter it as a written variant, but should choose 由々しい instead when writing.
Definitions
- i-adjectivegrave; serious; alarming
Conjugation
| Plain form | 由々しい（ゆゆしい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 由々しいです（ゆゆしいです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 由々しくない（ゆゆしくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 由々しくありません（ゆゆしくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 由々しかった（ゆゆしかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 由々しくなかった（ゆゆしくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 由々しくて（ゆゆしくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 由々しく（ゆゆしく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 由々しければ（ゆゆしければ） |
| kattara | 由々しかったら（ゆゆしかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym重大じゅうだいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Stresses the weight or importance of a matter; more common and more neutral than 「由々しい」.
- Synonym深刻しんこくNeutralNeutral. Highlights a problem worsening and becoming hard to resolve, as in 「深刻な問題」.
- SynonymシリアスCasualColloquial loanword for being serious and earnest; can also describe a grave situation, as in 「シリアスな状況」.
- Related重いおもいNeutralNeutral, everyday word. Covers severity of illness, guilt and more, so its range is wider than 「由々しい」.
- Related重たいおもたいCasualColloquial. Suggests an oppressive mood or atmosphere; it does not stress that a situation is urgent or critical.
Use 「由々しい」 for a situation so grave it cannot be left unattended, often as 「由々しき事態」; it is formal written prose. For ordinary seriousness, pick 「重大」 or 「深刻」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
