汚(きたな)い

きたない
adjective (i-adjective)
dirty
1. dirty, unclean
Not clean, covered with dirt or stains. Can describe physical dirtiness.
手(て)が汚(きたな)いです。洗(あら)ってください。
Your hands are dirty. Please wash them.
部屋(へや)が汚(きたな)いですね。
The room is dirty, isn't it?
汚(きたな)い服(ふく)を着(き)ないでください。
Please don't wear dirty clothes.
子供(こども)は外(そと)で遊(あそ)んで、手(て)も顔(かお)も汚(きたな)くなった。
The child played outside and got both their hands and face dirty.
川(かわ)の水(みず)が汚(きたな)い。
The river water is dirty.
汚(きたな)い言葉(ことば)を使(つか)わないでください。
Please don't use dirty words.
汚(きたな)い字(じ)ですみません。
Sorry for my messy handwriting.
2. unfair, underhanded
Can describe behavior that is morally dirty or dishonest.
それは汚(きたな)いやり方(かた)です。
That's a dirty/unfair way of doing things.
Figurative use
汚(きたな)い手(て)を使(つか)うな！
Don't play dirty!
それは汚(きたな)い商売(しょうばい)だ。
That's a shady business practice.

汚(きたな)い is an i-adjective meaning dirty (physical or moral).

FORMS:

  • Adverbial: 汚(きたな)く
  • Noun form: 汚(きたな)さ (dirtiness)
  • Intensified: 汚(きたな)らしい (filthy, disgusting)

TWO MEANINGS:
1. Physical: 汚(きたな)い部屋(へや) (dirty room)
2. Moral: 汚(きたな)いやり方(かた) (underhanded method)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 汚(きたな)い言葉(ことば): crude/vulgar language
  • 汚(きたな)い字(じ): messy handwriting
  • 汚(きたな)い手(て)を使(つか)う: to play dirty

OPPOSITE:
きれい (clean, pretty). In polite situations, きれいじゃない may be preferred over 汚(きたな)い, which can sound harsh.

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:23 · Revised 2026.2.19 9:49
00500/00788_kitanai