際どい
きわどい
i-adjective
close, narrow; risky; risqué
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 際どい | 際どくない |
| Past | 際どかった | 際どくなかった |
| て form | 際どくて | 際どくなくて |
| Adverbial | 際どく | — |
| Conditional ば | 際どければ | 際どくなければ |
| Conditional たら | 際どかったら | 際どくなかったら |
1.
close; narrow; touch-and-go
So close to a limit that the outcome could easily have gone the other way: a narrow win, a near miss, a call that could go either way.
2.
borderline; risky; risqué
Close to the line of what is acceptable: a dubious remark, a shady deal, or a slightly indecent joke or photo.
Common collocations
- 際どい勝負: a close contest
- 際どいところで: just barely, by a hair's breadth
- 際どい判定: a close call (by a referee)
- 際どい冗談 / 質問: a risqué joke / an awkward question
Similar words
- ぎりぎり: just barely, at the very limit; neutral, with no sense of danger or impropriety
- 危うい: in danger, precarious
Etymology
From 際 (edge, brink): being right at the edge.