汚らわしい

• Reading: けがらわしい
• Romaji: kegarawashii
• Kanji breakdown: 汚 (kega) — dirty, filthy, defiled
• Pronunciation: /ke.ɡa.ɾa.wa.ɕi.i/

Meaning

Filthy; disgusting; repulsive. Describes something morally or physically foul and detestable.

An i-adjective expressing strong revulsion towards something perceived as unclean, immoral, or beneath contempt. Stronger than 汚い (dirty), it carries a visceral sense of moral disgust or defilement. Used for both physical filth and moral corruption. Often appears in literary or dramatic contexts. Conjugates as a standard i-adjective: 汚らわしくない, 汚らわしかった.

Examples

1. 汚らわしい噂を広めるのはやめてほしい。 I wish people would stop spreading those disgusting rumors.
2. 彼の卑怯なやり方が汚らわしいと感じた。 I found his underhanded tactics utterly repulsive.
3. その光景はあまりに汚らわしくて目を背けた。 The scene was so revolting that I had to look away.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, drama, moral judgment, criticism

Tone: harsh

Origin & History

Derived from the verb 汚れる (kegareru, to become dirty/defiled) with the adjective-forming suffix -わしい, which intensifies the emotional quality. The root 汚 carries connotations of both physical and spiritual impurity.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal