Translation guide
The English word "dirty" covers a wide range of meanings, from physical uncleanliness to moral corruption, obscenity, and unfair play. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese equivalents for each.
Describing something covered in dirt, dust, or grime; not clean.
The most common and general word for 'dirty' in the physical sense. Can be used for objects, places, or people.
This room is dirty.
My hands are dirty, so I'll go wash them.
Literally 'is soiled/stained'. Often used for specific dirty spots or when something has become dirty.
The shirt is dirty.
Means 'unsanitary' or 'unhygienic'. Used in more formal or medical contexts.
Dirty environments can cause illness.
Referring to jokes, language, pictures, or content that is sexually suggestive or vulgar.
Means 'vulgar', 'crude', or 'indecent'. Commonly used for dirty jokes or lewd behavior.
He always tells dirty jokes.
Slang for 'lewd' or 'perverted'. Often used for sexual content or behavior. Can be used as a noun or adjective.
Legal/formal term for 'obscene' or 'indecent'. Used in contexts like obscenity laws.
Describing actions or tactics that are morally questionable, cheating, or not playing by the rules.
The same word as 'physically dirty' is also used metaphorically for unfair or mean-spirited actions.
Means 'cowardly' or 'unfair'. Often used for dirty tactics or foul play.
Casual word for 'sly' or 'unfair'. Often used when someone bends the rules to their advantage.
Referring to doping in sports or drug-related contexts.
The loanword 'doping' is used for drug use in sports. 'Dirty athlete' would be expressed as 'ドーピングをした選手'.
He was disqualified for doping (dirty play).
General term for 'drug use'. Can be used in contexts like 'dirty needle'.
signs of dirty (drug) use
Describing a facial expression that shows anger or displeasure.
Referring to clothes that need washing, or metaphorically to private scandals.
Referring to an unpleasant or morally questionable task that someone else does.
The English phrase 'dirty mind' (thinking of sex) does not translate directly. Use スケベ (sukebe) or エッチな考え (ecchi na kangae) instead. 汚い心 (kitanai kokoro) sounds like a morally corrupt heart, not a lewd mind.
You have a dirty mind.
汚い (kitanai) is an adjective meaning inherently dirty or unclean. 汚れている (yogoreteiru) is the progressive form of 汚れる (yogoreru), meaning 'has become dirty'. Use 汚い for permanent states or character, and 汚れている for temporary soiling.
This river is dirty (inherently polluted).
The clothes are dirty with mud.
The kitchen floor was dirty.
He told a dirty joke.
That was a dirty trick.
dirty book (pornographic)
わいせつ物陳列罪
crime of displaying obscene materials
That way of doing things is dirty (unfair).
dirty means / underhanded methods
Don't do anything dirty (sneaky).
She gave me a dirty look.