キモい

• 読み: キモい
• ローマ字: kimoi
• 漢字の分解: Shortened from 気持ち悪い (kimochi warui): 気持ち (feeling) + 悪い (bad) → feels gross
• 発音: /ki.mo.i/

意味

Gross, creepy, or disgusting — a blunt expression of revulsion toward something or someone perceived as repulsive.

Shortened from 気持ち悪い (kimochi warui, 'feels bad/disgusting'), キモい packs the same punch in fewer syllables. It is used to express visceral disgust at appearances, behaviour, or situations. Among younger speakers it can be thrown around casually, but it remains a genuinely hurtful word when directed at a person. It is one of the harshest casual insults in everyday Japanese.

例文

1. あの人ずっとこっち見てるんだけど、キモくない？
2. キモいこと言うなよ、鳥肌立つから。
3. SNSでキモいDM送ってくるやつ本当に無理。

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, social media, casual conversation

トーン: disgusted, blunt

正しい言い方

• この虫キモい！近づけないで！ (This bug is gross! Don't bring it near me!)
• キモいって思ったら素直に距離置く。 (If I think someone's creepy, I honestly just keep my distance.)

避ける言い方

• 人に直接「キモい」は相当キツい言葉 — 冗談でも傷つく (Saying 'kimoi' directly to someone is extremely harsh — it hurts even as a joke)

よくある間違い

• Using キモい in any formal or semi-formal setting — it is always rude
• Not realising how hurtful キモい is when directed at a person — it is much stronger than 'a bit gross'

起源と歴史

Abbreviated from 気持ち悪い (kimochi warui) in the 1990s by shortening to キモい. Became standard youth vocabulary by the 2000s and is now universally understood.

文化的背景

時代: 1990s abbreviation, mainstream by 2000s

世代: All ages (especially teens and 20s)

社会的背景: Universal informal

地域メモ: Used nationwide. The full form 気持ち悪い is also common and slightly less blunt.