Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
気味が悪い (きみがわるい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, i-adjective
creepy ; eerie ; giving one the creeps
Describes a feeling of unease or revulsion, often toward something strange, unsettling, or slightly scary. Used for both physical and psychological creepiness.
み
が
悪わる
く
て
、
早はや
足あし
で
歩ある
い
た
。
The forest at night was eerie, so I walked quickly.
Written forms 気き 味み が 悪わる い
Standard kanji spelling for this expression.
きみが 悪わる い
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the kanji 気味 might be misread as きび.
Similar words 不ぶ 気き 味み 不気味 is a na-adjective/noun meaning 'eerie' or 'ominous', often with a more objective, atmospheric nuance. 気味が悪い is a subjective feeling of creepiness or disgust.
怖こわ い 怖い means 'scary' or 'frightening' and is a more direct fear response. 気味が悪い is more about a vague, unsettling creepiness rather than outright fear.
Etymology From 気味 (きみ, 'feeling' or 'sensation') + が + 悪い (わるい, 'bad'). Literally 'the feeling is bad', used idiomatically for creepiness.
