醜い

• Reading: みにくい
• Romaji: minikui
• Kanji breakdown: 醜 (shū/minikui) — ugly, disgraceful, repulsive
• Pronunciation: /mi.ni.kɯ.i/

Meaning

Ugly; unsightly; disgraceful; shameful. Used for physical ugliness or morally reprehensible conduct.

An i-adjective used both to describe something visually repellent and to condemn behaviour that is morally base or shameful. While it can refer to physical appearance, it is most powerful when applied to actions — jealousy, greed, disputes over power — where the ugliness is ethical rather than aesthetic. The word carries strong negative evaluative force and is more forceful than similar terms such as みっともない (unseemly) or 汚い (dirty).

Examples

1. 権力を巡る醜い争いが表面化して、組織への信頼は失墜した。 An ugly power struggle came to the surface, and trust in the organization collapsed.
2. 外見ではなく心が醜いことのほうが、よほど問題だと彼は言った。 He said that having an ugly heart is far more of a problem than ugly looks.
3. 醜い嫉妬心に支配されて、かつての友人を傷つけてしまった。 Consumed by ugly jealousy, I ended up hurting a former friend.

Usage Guide

Context: morality, social criticism, appearance, emotions

Tone: critical

Origin & History

From the kanji 醜 (shū), which combines 鬼 (demon, fearsome creature) with 酉 (vessel), evoking an image of something monstrous or distorted. The character has carried connotations of both physical and moral repulsiveness since classical times.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: All classes