Translation guide
Describes something extremely ugly, shocking, or unpleasant to look at. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 醜い (minikui), but other words like おぞましい (ozomashii) or グロテスク (gurotesuku) may be used depending on the nuance.
Describing a person, creature, or object that is very unattractive or repulsive in appearance.
The most direct and common translation for 'hideous' when referring to physical ugliness. Can be used for people, animals, or things.
The monster had a very hideous face.
She hid her hideous scar.
Loanword from English 'grotesque'. Often used for something that is not just ugly but also bizarre, distorted, or unnatural. Common in describing art, horror, or exaggerated features.
The painting depicted a hideous monster.
Means 'ugly' or 'unshapely', often used for faces or appearances. More casual and slightly less intense than 醜い. Can be used humorously or insultingly.
That dog is hideous but cute.
Means 'unsightly' or 'ugly to look at'. Often used for scenes, behavior, or appearances that are unpleasant to witness. Less common for physical ugliness of people.
The ruins were in a hideous state.
Describing something that causes revulsion, horror, or strong disgust, often beyond just physical appearance.
Conveys a sense of dread, horror, or disgust. Often used for crimes, scenes, or acts that are morally repulsive or horrifying.
He committed a hideous crime.
Similar to おぞましい but can also be written as 悍ましい. Emphasizes a gut-wrenching disgust. Often used interchangeably.
Primarily means 'frightening' or 'terrible', but can be used for something hideous in the sense of being shockingly bad or horrifying.
Means 'ghastly' or 'gruesome'. Used for scenes of extreme violence or tragedy. Very strong and literary.
Used informally to describe something that is extremely bad, unpleasant, or objectionable, not necessarily visually ugly.
A versatile word meaning 'terrible', 'awful', or 'dreadful'. Can be used for situations, behavior, weather, etc. Not specifically about appearance.
The weather is hideous today.
Means 'the worst'. Often used colloquially to express that something is hideously bad.
When using 'hideous' to mean 'very bad' (e.g., a hideous mistake), do not directly translate with 醜い. Use ひどい or 最悪 instead. 醜い is almost exclusively for physical ugliness or moral repulsiveness.
That was a hideous mistake.
醜い is general ugliness, while グロテスク implies a distorted, unnatural, or exaggerated ugliness, often with a sense of the bizarre. グロテスク is commonly used in entertainment and art contexts.
The sculpture is more grotesque than hideous.
The sight was too hideous.
The details of the hideous incident were revealed.
The scene of the accident was hideous.
凄惨な殺人現場だった。
It was a hideous murder scene.
His attitude was hideous.
その映画は最悪だった。
That movie was hideous.