🇯🇵 How to say

“dirty” in Japanese

汚いきたない
Illustration of "dirty" in a Japanese cultural setting
A child's hands are smeared with mud after playing in the garden, with dirt under the fingernails and streaks of soil across the palms.

Usage note

Use きたない for things that are physically unclean, like dusty surfaces or stained objects; it can also describe messy or untidy situations in a casual tone.

Examples

  • その部屋はとてもきたないです。

    That room is very dirty.

  • きたない服を洗います。

    I wash dirty clothes.

  • テーブルがきたないから、ふいてください。

    The table is dirty, so please wipe it.

Quick check

What does "汚い" mean?

  • A. dirty
  • B. bright
  • C. near
  • D. dark

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