忌み嫌う

• Reading: いみきらう
• Romaji: imikirau
• Kanji breakdown: 忌 (ki/i) — taboo, mourning, shun; 嫌 (ken/iya) — dislike, hate
• Pronunciation: /i.mi.ki.ɾa.ɯ/

Meaning

To detest; to loathe; to abhor. A strong expression of intense hatred or aversion, often rooted in deep disgust or a sense of taboo.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb combining 忌む (imu, to shun as taboo) and 嫌う (kirau, to dislike). The doubling of two verbs with overlapping meanings intensifies the aversion to an extreme degree. Used for moral, social, or visceral revulsion — stronger than simply 嫌う. Often appears in discussions of discrimination, social norms, or deep personal values.

Examples

1. 彼は欺瞞を忌み嫌い、どんな場でも正直を貫いた。 He abhorred deception and remained honest in every situation.
2. 社会的に忌み嫌われていた慣習が、ようやく廃止された。 A practice that had long been loathed by society was finally abolished.
3. 暴力を忌み嫌う彼女は、争いの場からいつも距離を置いた。 She detested violence and always kept her distance from any conflict.

Usage Guide

Context: values, social criticism, morality, literature

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 忌む (imu), from Old Japanese denoting ritual avoidance of taboo things, and 嫌う (kirau, to dislike). The 忌む component adds a quasi-religious or instinctive revulsion that goes beyond ordinary dislike.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal