Meaning

Primary

Hurtful Words

Alternatives

Hurtful Speech, Sarcasm, Disagreeableness

Word Type

noun, な adjective

Explanation

You have a flavor of dislike. If someone gives you "flavor" and you dislike it, what might that "flavor" be? How about hurtful words.

Reading

いやみ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading for is the on'yomi you learned with the kanji, but the reading for is the kun'yomi, いや. Just imagine someone saying words so hurtful that you have to scream, "Iyaaaaa!" いや.

Context

Context Sentences

こんなクイズも解けないのか、と嫌味を言われた。

“You can’t even answer a simple question like that? ” he said hurtfully.

アイツ、ちょっと頭悪いよね。どうしてあれが嫌味だってことに気づかないのかな。

He’s kind of an idiot, really. Why didn’t he realize that it was sarcastic?

あの嫌味な女をガツンと言わせた君の発言は、賞賛に値するよ。

Your comments that made that obnoxious woman gasp are commendable.

Kanji Composition