きらい | Grammar

Structure

[noun] + が + きらいきらいな + [noun]

Description

きらい (きらい嫌い in kanji) means "dislike". It is a な-adjective, not a verb: the thing you dislike takes が, the person who dislikes it takes は, and the sentence ends in です or だ.

。

I dislike natto.

。

My younger brother dislikes vegetables.

、。

When I was a child, I disliked fish.

English makes the disliked thing an object, which pulls learners towards を.

× 野菜をきらいです → 野菜がきらいです

Before a noun, きらい takes な.

。

Is there any food you dislike?

。

There are people who dislike cats.

きらい or 好きじゃない

きらい states the dislike flatly, and said about someone's cooking or someone's friend in front of them, it is blunt. すき好きじゃない, "don't like", says the same thing more softly, and it is the usual choice when the person who made or chose the thing is listening.

。

I dislike this song.

。

I don't really like this song.

Usage notes

These go beyond a plain statement of dislike.

大きらい

is the strong form: "hate", "can't stand".

。

I really hate that person.

。

She really hates bugs.

きらいじゃない

The negative, きらいじゃない or きらいではない, means "I don't dislike it". It is a guarded way to say you quite like something without going as far as すき好き.

。

I don't dislike spicy food.

Examples

。

I dislike carrots.

。

There are people who dislike cats.

。

She really hates bugs.

。

Is there a subject you dislike?

、。

I don't dislike exercise, but I don't do it much.

、。

When I was a child, I disliked fish.

きごう？

Why do you dislike that movie?

、。

I used to dislike studying, but now I like it.

、。

My father dislikes coffee, so he always drinks tea.

。

Is there anyone you dislike?

。

I dislike the cold.

。

I don't particularly dislike that song.

References

きらいBunpro