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Japanese to English Dictionary
憎い
nikui
Description
「憎い」は、だれかや何かをとても嫌って、そのことがゆるせないと感じる時に使います。
"憎い" is used when you hate someone or something very much and feel you cannot forgive it.
ときどき、あまりに上手でくやしいくらいすばらしい、というほめ言葉として使うこともあります。
Sometimes, "憎い" is also used as a compliment meaning someone is so skillful it's almost frustratingly wonderful.
Meanings
憎いnikui
hateful; detestable; hard to forgive
うそをつく人が憎い。
I hate people who lie.
憎いnikui
impressively good (admiring, half-envious praise)
彼のプレゼントは憎いほどおしゃれだ。
His present is stylish to the point of being enviable.
Related words
Notes
- Nuance
sense 2 flips the meaning to warm praise, like "annoyingly clever/stylish."
- Form
i-adjective; related verb 憎む (nikumu) means "to hate."
Images