Translation guide
Describes something that is unpleasant to look at, often due to being messy, unattractive, or out of place. Japanese expressions vary by nuance: physical ugliness, disorder, or social impropriety.
To describe a person, object, or scene that is simply not pleasing to the eye.
The most direct and common word for 'ugly' or 'unsightly'. Can refer to physical appearance, behavior, or abstract things. Strongly negative.
その建物はとても醜い。
That building is very unsightly.
Literally 'hard to look at'. Often used for something that is unpleasant to see due to being messy, indecent, or inappropriate, rather than just physically ugly.
彼の食べ方は見苦しい。
His way of eating is unsightly.
Colloquial and somewhat blunt word for 'ugly' or 'clumsy-looking', often used for faces or objects. Can be insulting.
あの犬は不細工だけど可愛い。
That dog is unsightly but cute.
To describe a place or thing that looks bad because it is untidy or disorganized.
Again, 'hard to look at' due to messiness. Commonly used for rooms, desks, or personal appearance.
部屋が見苦しいほど散らかっている。
The room is so messy it's unsightly.
Means 'sloppy', 'untidy', or 'slovenly'. Often used for personal habits or appearance, but can describe a messy space.
Formal word for 'disorderly' or 'cluttered'. Often used in written descriptions of rooms or documents.
To describe behavior or a situation that is awkward, shameful, or makes others uncomfortable to see.
Extends to behavior that is disgraceful or embarrassing to watch, like a public argument or poor sportsmanship.
あの夫婦喧嘩は見苦しかった。
That couple's fight was unsightly.
A noun meaning 'disgraceful behavior' or 'scandalous scene'. Used for public displays of shame.
To describe something that looks bad because it is soiled, worn, or marred.
Primarily means 'dirty', but often used for anything that looks unclean and therefore unsightly.
壁の落書きが汚くて見苦しい。
The graffiti on the wall is dirty and unsightly.
Can be combined with 汚い to emphasize the visual unpleasantness of dirt or damage.
見苦しい (migurushii) focuses on the unpleasantness of looking at something, often due to messiness, impropriety, or disorder. 醜い (minikui) is a stronger, more direct word for 'ugly', often implying a deeper aesthetic or moral judgment. Use 見苦しい for temporary or situational unsightliness, and 醜い for inherent ugliness.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'unsightly'. Direct translations like '見苦しい' work in many cases, but for physical ugliness, '醜い' is more natural. For social embarrassment, 'みっともない' is often better. Choose based on the specific nuance.
彼の服装はいつもだらしない。
His clothes are always unsightly.
机の上が乱雑で、見苦しい。
The top of the desk is cluttered and unsightly.
Means 'shameful', 'disgraceful', or 'unbecoming'. Focuses on the social embarrassment of the appearance or action.
そんな格好で出かけるのはみっともない。
Going out looking like that is unsightly.
彼は酔って醜態をさらした。
He got drunk and made an unsightly scene.
そのカーペットは汚れて見苦しい。
The carpet is stained and unsightly.