いずい
いずい
i-adjective (dialect)
uncomfortable; irritating (Tohoku dialect)
1.
uncomfortable; irritating; ill-fitting
Tohoku dialect adjective describing a subtle physical or emotional discomfort that is difficult to pinpoint but persistently bothersome.
目にゴミが入っていずい。
There's something in my eye and it's irritating.
このシャツ、首元がいずい。
This shirt is uncomfortable around the neck.
なんかいずい感じがする。
Something feels uncomfortably off.
DIALECT:
Tohoku (東北) dialect, particularly common in Miyagi, Iwate, and surrounding prefectures.
STANDARD EQUIVALENT:
No exact equivalent exists in standard Japanese. Closest expressions:
- 違和感がある - feels wrong/off
- しっくりこない - doesn't fit right
- 気持ち悪い - unpleasant (but いずい is subtler)
NUANCE:
いずい describes a specific type of discomfort that is:
- Subtle but persistent
- Difficult to describe precisely
- Often physical (clothing, something in your eye) but can be emotional
- Not painful, but definitely not comfortable
EXAMPLES OF いずい SITUATIONS:
- A tag in your shirt scratching your neck
- Something small stuck between your teeth
- Shoes that almost fit but not quite
- An awkward social situation
CULTURAL NOTE:
いずい is famous as a "untranslatable" Japanese dialect word, as standard Japanese lacks a single word that captures this specific type of discomfort.