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
嫌がる
いやがる (iyagaru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "dislike" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 嫌い and 嫌がる.
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, 嫌がる (いやがる (iyagaru)) maps to "to dislike; to hate; to be unwilling; to show unwillingness" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Used to describe someone *showing* their dislike or unwillingness, often observable from their actions or expressions, rather than just feeling it internally. 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 "嫌がる"
彼は納豆を嫌がって、全く食べなかった。
He disliked natto and didn't eat it at all.
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.". "嫌がる" represents "to dislike; to hate; to be unwilling; to show unwillingness".