きつい

• Reading: きつい
• Romaji: kitsui
• Pronunciation: /ki.t͡sɯ.i/

Meaning

Tight; intense; harsh. Describes something physically tight, mentally demanding, or severe.

An i-adjective with multiple related meanings: physically tight clothing (きつい靴), harsh words or personality (きつい言い方), and demanding work or schedules (きつい仕事). Always written in hiragana. The specific meaning depends entirely on context.

Examples

1. この靴はちょっときつくて足が痛い。 These shoes are a little tight and my feet hurt.
2. 今月はスケジュールがきつくて休めない。 My schedule is so packed this month that I can't take a day off.
3. 先輩にきつい言葉を言われてショックだった。 I was shocked when my senior said something harsh to me.

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, work, personality

Tone: colloquial

Origin & History

Of native Japanese origin with uncertain etymology. Possibly related to きっちり (kicchiri, precisely/tightly). The word has been used since at least the Edo period to describe physical tightness and severity.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal