薄汚い

• Reading: うすきたない
• Romaji: usukitanai
• Kanji breakdown: 薄 (haku/usu) — thin, slight, pale; 汚 (o/kitana) — dirty, filthy
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.sɯ.ki.ta.na.i/

Meaning

Grimy; grubby; squalid; shabby. Describes something mildly but pervasively dirty or unkempt in a way that is off-putting.

A compound i-adjective from 薄 (usu — slight, thin) + 汚い (kitanai — dirty). The 薄 prefix conveys pervasiveness rather than intensity — not dramatically filthy but consistently grimy throughout. Used for unkempt rooms, shabby back streets, or people with a general air of neglect. Often implies accumulated grime and negligence rather than extreme poverty.

Examples

1. 薄汚い路地に迷い込んでしまい、早く抜け出したいと思った。 I found myself lost in a grimy alley and wanted nothing more than to find my way out.
2. 長く使い込まれた薄汚いソファが部屋の隅に置かれていた。 A well-worn, grubby sofa sat in the corner of the room.
3. 薄汚い格好をしていると、面接で第一印象を損なうことがある。 Turning up in shabby clothes can damage your first impression at a job interview.

Usage Guide

Context: environment, appearance, social issues, daily life

Tone: critical

Origin & History

Compound of 薄 (haku/usu — thin, slight, pale) + 汚い (kitanai — dirty, filthy). The 薄 prefix moderates the intensity while spreading the sense of dinginess throughout the subject described.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: General