嫌う

• Reading: きらう
• Romaji: kirau
• Kanji breakdown: 嫌 (kira/iya) — dislike, hate, unpleasant
• Pronunciation: /ki.ɾa.ɯ/

Meaning

To hate; to dislike; to loathe. A strong feeling of aversion toward something.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the う row. Stronger and more direct than 嫌い (dislike as an adjective). Takes を to mark the object of dislike. The passive form 嫌われる (to be disliked/hated) is extremely common, often more so than the active form. Carries emotional weight — not used for mild preferences.

Examples

1. 彼は嘘をつく人を嫌っている。 He hates people who lie.
2. 理由もなく人を嫌うのはよくない。 It's not right to hate someone for no reason.
3. みんなに嫌われるのが怖かった。 I was afraid of being hated by everyone.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, relationships, personal feelings

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 嫌 combines 女 (woman) and 兼 (simultaneously/combined), originally suggesting conflicting feelings. Evolved to mean aversion and dislike.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal