痒かゆい

also: かいい

か

ゆ

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

痒い · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	痒かゆい	痒かゆくない
Polite	痒かゆいです	痒かゆくないですalso 痒かゆくありません
Past polite	痒かゆかったです	痒かゆくなかったですalso 痒かゆくありませんでした
Past	痒かゆかった	痒かゆくなかった
Te-form	痒かゆくて	痒かゆくなくて
Adverbial	痒かゆく
Conditional	痒かゆければ	痒かゆくなければ
Tara conditional	痒かゆかったら	痒かゆくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

itchy

usually written using kana alone

Describes a physical sensation of itchiness on the skin or a metaphorical feeling of irritation. The kana spelling かゆい is more common in everyday writing.

虫むしに刺さされたところが痒かゆい。
The spot where I was bitten by a bug is itchy.
背せ中なかが痒かゆくてたまらない。
My back is so itchy I can't stand it.

See all 102 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉が痒かゆいa part of the body itches
背せ中なかが痒かゆくて仕し方かたない。
My back itches unbearably.
〈場ば所しょ〉を蚊かに刺さされて痒かゆいto itch from a mosquito bite
足あしを蚊かに刺さされて痒かゆい。
My leg itches from a mosquito bite.
痒かゆいところに手てが届とどくto be attentive to every small detail or need
このサービスは痒かゆいところに手てが届とどく対たい応おうをしてくれる。
This service is thoughtful about even the smallest details.

Expressions

痛いたし痒かゆしdelicate situation; mixed blessing; choice between two evils
痛いたくも痒かゆくもないof no concern at all; I couldn't care less; no skin off my nose

Kanji

痒itchy

Don't confuse with

くすぐったいN1
痒い describes an itch that makes you want to scratch, while くすぐったい describes a tickling sensation that makes you want to laugh or squirm.
痛いたいN5
痛い means 'painful/hurting' while 痒い means 'itchy'; both describe physical sensations but are opposite feelings, not synonyms.

Word family

かゆみN3
itch; itching; itchiness
痒かゆがる
complain of itching; feel itchy; be bothered by an itch
痛いた痒がゆい
painfully itchy; painful and itchy
むず痒がゆい
itchy; irritating (skin) · creepy; uneasy; cringey

Written forms

痒いUsage51%
- かゆい
  Kanji form is common and unambiguous; it is a priority entry.
- かいい
かゆいUsage49%
It is usually written in kana; this is the most common written form in practice.
かいいUsage<1%
Rare reading variant; mostly encountered in older or dialectal speech. Not recommended for active use.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese word. The kanji 痒 is composed of 疒 (sickness) and 羊 (sheep), but the historical derivation is not clearly established.