The Meaning of migurushii [見苦しい] In Japanese

見苦しい
みぐるしい
Romaji: migurushii N4

What does 見苦しい mean?

Translation and Meaning

ugly, unsightly, unbecoming, distasteful

Definition

What does 見苦しい mean? It means unattractive to look at or to observe, a quality or behavior that makes a scene or person unpleasant to the eye; used to express strong disapproval of appearance or conduct.

Type

adjective (い-adjective)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Visually unattractive; not pleasing to the eye.
  • Discreditable or improper behavior; something that causes embarrassment or a poor impression.
  • Strong negative judgment about taste or propriety; emphasizes discomfort or revulsion.

Composition

  • 見 — see, look
  • 苦しい — painful, difficult; conveys discomfort when seen

Usage

Used in casual and formal contexts to condemn appearance or conduct; can describe people, objects, or situations; in conversation it often carries a judgmental tone; in writing it’s common in critiques or opinion pieces.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a grimace when you see something ugly; 見苦しい literally means something is painful to look at, helping you recall its meaning.

Variations

  • 醜い (minikui) — ugly
  • みっともない (mottomonai) — unbecoming
  • 不細工 (busaiku) — unattractive
  • 上品だ (jōhin da) — refined, tasteful (antonym)

Words with the same Meaning

Example Phrases

  • 彼の 見苦しい 態度は 皆が すぐに 直すべき だ
    kare no migurushii taido wa minna ga sugu ni naosu beki da
    Everyone says his unseemly attitude should be fixed soon.
    Lista:
    • 彼の (kare no) – his
    • 見苦しい (migurushii) – unseemly
    • 態度は (taido wa) – attitude (topic)
    • 皆が (minna ga) – everyone
    • すぐに (sugu ni) – right away
    • 直すべき (naosu beki) – should fix
    • だ (da) – is
    見苦しい é um adjetivo i que significa ‘desagradável de se ver’; aqui modifica 「態度」 para formar 「見苦しい態度」.
見苦しい