薄暗い|うすぐらいusugurai[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. i-adjectivedim; gloomy
    薄暗うすぐらい光ひかりの中なかで彼かれの顔かおを見みた。↗
    I saw his face in the dim light.
Conjugation
Plain form薄暗い(うすぐらい)
Polite (desu)薄暗いです(うすぐらいです)
Negative (kunai)薄暗くない(うすぐらくない)
polite (ku arimasen)薄暗くありません(うすぐらくありません)
Past (katta)薄暗かった(うすぐらかった)
Past negative (kunakatta)薄暗くなかった(うすぐらくなかった)
Te form (kute)薄暗くて(うすぐらくて)
Adverbial (ku)薄暗く(うすぐらく)
Conditional (kereba)薄暗ければ(うすぐらければ)
kattara薄暗かったら(うすぐらかったら)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym暗いくらいNeutralNeutral. Dark or poorly lit to a heavier degree than 「薄暗い」, and figuratively a gloomy, depressed mood.
  • Synonymほの暗いほのぐらいWrittenWritten and poetic, for a hazy, faint gloom, as in 「ほの暗い灯り」; 「薄暗い」 is the more everyday word.
  • Synonym小暗いおぐらいWrittenA written, elegant word for somewhat dim surroundings, seen mostly in literature; in daily speech say 「薄暗い」.
  • Related陰気いんきNeutralNeutral. Describes a gloomy atmosphere or personality — psychological rather than visual; 「薄暗い」 is about dim light.
  • Antonym明るいあかるいNeutralNeutral. The antonym on the bright–dim axis: light and well lit, where 「薄暗い」 is faintly dark.
  • Antonym眩しいまぶしいNeutralNeutral. The antonym in intensity of light: so bright it dazzles the eye, where 「薄暗い」 is merely dim.

「薄暗い」 is the everyday word for somewhat dim light. 「ほの暗い」 is written and poetic; 「小暗い」 is a literary word. 「暗い」 is a stronger degree of darkness and also covers a gloomy mood; 「陰気」 is a gloomy atmosphere or personality. Antonyms: 「明るい」 bright, 「眩しい」 dazzling.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 仄ほのかに暗くらい。
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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