えぐい

え

ぐ

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

えぐい · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	えぐい	えぐくない
Polite	えぐいです	えぐくないですalso えぐくありません
Past polite	えぐかったです	えぐくなかったですalso えぐくありませんでした
Past	えぐかった	えぐくなかった
Te-form	えぐくて	えぐくなくて
Adverbial	えぐく
Conditional	えぐければ	えぐくなければ
Tara conditional	えぐかったら	えぐくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

harsh; acrid; pungent; astringent

usually written using kana alone

Describes a strong, unpleasant taste or sensation, like something bitter, astringent, or irritating to the throat.

この柿かきはまだ熟じゅくしてなくて、えぐい味あじがする。
This persimmon isn't ripe yet and has a harsh, astringent taste.

i-adjective

sharp; biting; harsh

usually written using kana alonecolloquial

Used for language, questions, or remarks that are cutting, severe, or hurtful. Colloquial.

彼かれのえぐい質しつ問もんに、みんな黙だまってしまった。
Everyone fell silent at his biting question.

i-adjective

nasty; gross; disgusting; brutal

usually written using kana alonecolloquial

Colloquial; expresses that something is shockingly unpleasant, cruel, or morally repulsive, often in a vivid way.

あの映えい画がのラストシーン、えぐすぎて直ちょく視しできなかった。
The final scene of that movie was so brutal I couldn't watch it.

i-adjective

awesome; amazing; incredible; cool

usually written using kana aloneslang

Slang; a positive intensifier used mainly by younger speakers to express that something is extremely good or impressive.

この曲きょく、えぐいくらいかっこいい！
This song is insanely cool!

See all 11 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉の味あじがえぐいthe taste of ~ is harsh/acrid
このお茶ちゃは味あじがえぐい。
This tea has a harsh, bitter taste.
〈人ひと〉がえぐい発はつ言げんをするsomeone makes a biting/cutting remark
彼かれはいつもえぐい発はつ言げんをする。
He always makes cutting remarks.
えぐい展てん開かいになるthings take a brutal/nasty turn
映えい画がの後こう半はんはえぐい展てん開かいになった。
The second half of the movie took a brutal turn.
〈物もの〉がえぐい~ is awesome/amazing (slang)
このゲーム、グラフィックがえぐい。
This game's graphics are amazing.

Kanji

刳clear, serene, cold
蘞wild vine, vitis pentaphylla
醶

Related words· 6

渋しぶいN2sense 1
渋い describes a pleasant, refined astringency (like good tea), while えぐい describes an unpleasant, harsh astringency.
辛からいN5sense 1
辛い refers to spicy or salty taste, whereas えぐい refers to a raw, throat-irritating harshness rather than heat.
きついN3sense 2
きつい describes something harsh or severe in a general sense, while えぐい (in this sense) specifically describes cutting, biting remarks.
ひどいN4sense 3
ひどい is the common word for something terrible or cruel, while えぐい is a more colloquial, vivid way to call something shockingly nasty.

Show 2 more

やばいN1sense 4
やばい is a versatile slang intensifier that can mean great or terrible depending on context, while えぐい (in this sense) is used specifically as a strong positive intensifier by younger speakers.
すごいN5sense 4
すごい is the standard word for amazing or impressive, while えぐい (in this slang sense) is a more casual, edgy way to express the same admiration.

Opposites

甘あまいN5sense 1
甘い means sweet-tasting, the opposite of the harsh, acrid taste described by えぐい.

Written forms

えぐいUsage48%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
エグいUsage52%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling common in casual writing, especially for slang senses.
刳えぐい
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
蘞えぐい
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
醶えぐい
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the verb 抉る (えぐる, 'to gouge'), suggesting a sharp, piercing quality. The kanji forms are rare and not etymologically transparent.