Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Dislike" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "dislike", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
嫌い
きらい (kirai)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
厭う
いとう (itou)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "dislike" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 嫌い and 厭う.
In Japanese, 嫌い (きらい (kirai)) is typically associated with "dislike, hate" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents な-adjective.
On the other hand, 厭う (いとう (itou)) maps to "to dislike; to be unwilling to do; to grudge" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Often used in a negative construction like 「～を厭わない」. A literal translation of "dislike" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "嫌い"
私はピーマンが嫌いです。
I dislike bell peppers.
Bilingual Context for "厭う"
彼は苦労を厭わず、研究に没頭した。
He immersed himself in research, not shying away from hardship.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "私はピーマンが ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "I dislike bell peppers.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "嫌い" fits here because it means "dislike, hate" in the context of: "I dislike bell peppers.". "厭う" represents "to dislike; to be unwilling to do; to grudge".