1.
instinctive dislike, irrational aversion, prejudice
An unreasonable dislike for something or someone without a clear logical basis. The aversion comes from gut feeling rather than from any specific fault or reason.
理由もなく毛嫌いするのはよくない。
It's not good to take an instinctive dislike to something without reason.
数学を毛嫌いしている生徒が多い。
Many students have an irrational aversion to math.
食わず嫌いや毛嫌いをせずに、まず試してみることが大切だ。
Rather than rejecting things without trying them or having an irrational dislike, it's important to try first.
USAGE:
Used as a noun (毛嫌い) or suru verb (毛嫌いする). The key nuance is that the dislike is unreasonable or instinctive — there is no objective basis for it. The 毛 (hair) prefix suggests something visceral, like hairs standing on end.
ETYMOLOGY:
Originally from horse breeding — horses would sometimes refuse to mate with certain other horses based on the texture of their hair (毛), without any rational reason.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 毛嫌いする: to have an irrational dislike of
- 毛嫌いせずに: without irrational prejudice
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 食わず嫌い: disliking without having tried (originally about food)
- 偏見: prejudice, bias (broader, more intellectual)