Meaning
The kanji 嫌 (けん, げん, いや, きら.う, きら.い) expresses a range of negative feelings, mainly encompassing dislike, hate, detestation, and being unpleasant or a nuisance. It can also imply suspicion, particularly in more formal or legal contexts. This kanji is essential for conveying aversion or antipathy in Japanese.
Its visual composition hints at its meaning. The left-hand radical is 女 (onna), meaning 'woman.' The right-hand component is 兼 (ken), which means 'concurrently,' 'to combine,' or 'to double.' While the 'woman' radical can sometimes denote gender, in many kanji, it functions phonetically. In older contexts, it could also be linked to various human characteristics or emotions, which weren't always positive.
Historically, the component 兼 could also imply 'suspicion' or 'doubt' due to its connotation of combining things in a complex or ambiguous way. One interpretation, therefore, combines 'woman' (perhaps representing a person in general, or historically, a target of suspicion) with 'concurrently' or 'suspicion.' This suggests the overall meaning of 'dislike' or 'suspicion.'
Another perspective considers a person (女) juggling multiple responsibilities or "combined" (兼) with many duties. Such a person might become weary and dislike (嫌) their situation, or others might view them with suspicion.
The kanji 嫌 consists of 13 strokes and is part of the Jōyō Kanji list, making it a standard kanji taught in Japan. It is designated as an N1 level kanji in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, highlighting its advanced usage and complexity.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi readings originate from ancient Chinese pronunciations and are usually found in compound words, where 嫌 is combined with other kanji.
ケン (KEN) — This is the more common on'yomi reading for 嫌, often appearing in words related to dislike, hatred, or suspicion. It communicates a strong sense of aversion or doubt.
嫌悪 (ken'o) — abhorrence, disgust. This word describes a strong feeling of repulsion or extreme dislike.
嫌疑 (kengi) — suspicion, charge. This term refers to a state of being suspected of a crime or wrongdoing.
嫌煙 (ken'en) — anti-smoking, hatred of smoking. This compound specifically refers to the dislike or opposition to smoking. (e.g., 嫌煙権 - rights of non-smokers).
ゲン (GEN) — This on'yomi is less common than ケン and is usually found in more formal, literary, or older compounds. It also signifies dislike or detestation.
嫌忌 (genki) — detestation, abhorrence. Similar to 嫌悪, but often used in more classical or academic contexts.
嫌厭 (gen'en) — aversion, dislike, abhorrence. Another formal term for strong dislike.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations linked to the kanji's meaning, typically used when the kanji appears alone or as part of a native Japanese word, particularly verbs and adjectives.
いや (iya) — This reading serves as an adjectival noun, conveying unwillingness, unpleasantness, or dislike. It's frequently used in daily conversation.
嫌だ (iya da) — I don't want to, no (when expressing unwillingness), it's unpleasant.
嫌なこと (iya na koto) — an unpleasant thing, something one dislikes.
嫌な顔 (iya na kao) — an unpleasant or disgusted face.
きら.う (kira.u) — This is the transitive verb form, meaning 'to dislike,' 'to hate,' or 'to detest.' It expresses an active aversion toward something or someone.
嫌う (kirau) — to dislike, to hate.
嫌われる (kirawareru) — to be disliked, to be hated (passive form).
人を嫌う (hito o kirau) — to dislike people.
きら.い (kira.i) — This is the noun or adjectival noun form, meaning 'dislike,' 'hatred,' or 'a hated thing/person.' It describes the state of disliking or being disliked.
嫌い (kirai) — dislike, hatred (often used with が or な).
食べ物嫌い (tabemono-girai) — picky eater, dislike of certain foods.
彼は魚が嫌いだ (Kare wa sakana ga kirai da) — He dislikes fish.
Common Words & Compounds
Here are various words and compounds featuring the kanji 嫌, categorized by theme to help you grasp their contexts and nuances.
General Dislike & Aversion:
嫌い (kirai) — dislike, hate, aversion.
嫌悪 (ken'o) — abhorrence, disgust.
嫌気 (iyake) — aversion, disgust (feeling of being fed up). e.g., 仕事に嫌気がさす (shigoto ni iyake ga sasu) - to get fed up with work.
嫌忌 (genki) — detestation, abhorrence (more formal).
Actions & Expressions of Dislike:
嫌う (kirau) — to dislike, to hate, to detest.
嫌がる (iyagaru) — to show reluctance, to be unwilling, to express dislike.
嫌がらせ (iyagarase) — harassment, pestering, unpleasant behavior.
嫌になる (iya ni naru) — to get fed up with, to grow weary of, to become disgusted.
Specific Dislikes & Attitudes:
食わず嫌い (kuwazu-girai) — disliking something without even trying it; a prejudice. e.g., 彼は食わず嫌が多い (Kare wa kuwazu-girai ga ōi) - He is a picky eater / He has many prejudices against foods he hasn't tried.
人嫌い (hito-girai) — misanthropy, dislike of people.
勉強嫌い (benkyō-girai) — dislike of studying.
嫌煙権 (ken'enken) — rights of non-smokers.
Suspicion & Doubt:
嫌疑 (kengi) — suspicion, charge, doubt. Often used in legal or investigative contexts.
嫌疑不十分 (kengi fujūbun) — insufficient evidence for suspicion.
Example Sentences
この仕事は嫌だけど、やるしかない。
Kono shigoto wa iya dakedo, yaru shika nai.
I dislike this work, but I have no choice but to do it.
なぜか、あの人のことが嫌いだ。
Nazeka, ano hito no koto ga kirai da.
For some reason, I dislike that person.
多くの人が満員電車を嫌います。
Ōku no hito ga man'in densha o kira'imasu.
Many people dislike crowded trains.
彼女は彼からの嫌がらせに悩んでいた。
Kanojo wa kare kara no iyagarase ni nayande ita.
She was suffering from his harassment.
あの匂いは嫌悪感を抱かせます。
Ano nioi wa ken'okan o idakasemasu.
That smell makes me feel disgusted.
彼は自分が嫌われるのが怖いと言っていた。
Kare wa jibun ga kirawareru no ga kowai to itte ita.
He said he was afraid of being disliked.
警察は彼に殺人の嫌疑をかけている。
Keisatsu wa kare ni satsujin no kengi o kakete iru.
The police suspect him of murder.
子供の頃は野菜嫌いだったが、今は好きになった。
Kodomo no koro wa yasai-girai datta ga, ima wa suki ni natta.
When I was a child, I disliked vegetables, but now I like them.
朝起きが嫌で、いつもギリギリまで寝ています。
Asa-oki ga iya de, itsumo girigiri made nete imasu.
I dislike waking up in the morning, so I always sleep until the last minute.
彼は食わず嫌で、いろいろな物を試そうとしない。
Kare wa kuwazu-girai de, iroirona mono o tamesō to shinai.
He dislikes things without trying them and won't attempt to try various foods.
Memory Tip
To remember 嫌, picture its components: 女 (woman) on the left and 兼 (combine/concurrently) on the right. Imagine a story where a woman (女) is forced to concurrently (兼) do many unpleasant tasks, making her deeply dislike (嫌) them and become fed up. Alternatively, you could visualize a woman (女) who is disliked or suspected by many (兼, which can imply 'everyone' or 'all-encompassing'), resulting in feelings of dislike or aversion. In this context, the 'woman' radical can represent a person in general. The 兼 component then serves phonetically, while also suggesting a broader or more intense feeling, as if a negative sentiment is 'combined' or 'concurrently' present.