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由々しい (ゆゆしい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

由ゆ々ゆしい

ゆ

ゆ

し

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

grave; serious; alarming

Describes a situation, problem, or matter that is very serious, grave, or alarming; often used in formal or news contexts.

この問もん題だいは由ゆ々ゆしい事じ態たいだ。
This problem is a grave situation.
由ゆ々ゆしい誤あやま

り

が

報ほう

告こく

書しょ

に

見み

つかっ

た

。

A serious error was found in the report.

Written forms

由ゆ々ゆしいUsage14%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Standard kanji spelling; the kanji 由 is ateji (phonetic).
ゆゆしいUsage86%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the ateji kanji is not needed.
忌々ゆゆしい
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji 忌 carries a nuance of 'abominable' or 'ominous'.

Kanji

由wherefore, a reason
忌mourning, abhor, detestable

Similar words

深しん刻こく
深刻 is a more common and neutral word for 'serious' or 'grave', while 由々しい is more formal and often used in news or official statements.
重じゅう大だい
重大 means 'significant' or 'weighty' and is used for important matters, whereas 由々しい emphasizes the alarming or grave nature of a situation.

Etymology

The word is derived from the reduplication of 由 (yoshi, 'reason' or 'cause') with the adjective ending しい, originally meaning 'having a reason' or 'significant'. The kanji 由 is ateji (phonetic). The alternative kanji 忌 (imi, 'abominable') reflects the negative connotation.