Nikomu

Nikomu is the Japanese verb 憎む, read kunyomi as nikumu. It means to hate, detest, or loathe someone or something. It is a transitive verb used with a direct object marked by を, as in 人を憎む (to hate a person). The term carries strong emotional weight and is typically reserved for intense or morally charged dislike rather than casual aversion.

Etymology and form: 憎む combines the kanji 憎, meaning hate or detest, with the verb ending む. The kun reading is nikumu, while the on reading is zō. The word appears in classical and modern Japanese, and remains common in literary, dramatic, or rhetorical contexts where fierce sentiment is described.

Usage and nuance: 憎む expresses a deep hatred that can be personal or generalized toward a person, group, action, or even a situation. It often implies moral judgment or condemnation. In everyday speech, speakers may prefer 嫌う (kirau) for dislike or 憎らしい (nikurashii) as an adjective form, but 憎む remains the stronger choice when the speaker wants to emphasize genuine loathing.

Conjugation and grammar: 憎む is a godan verb. Non-past: 憎む; negative non-past: 憎まない; past: 憎んだ; negative past: 憎まなかった. Te-form: 憎んで. The verb can combine with expressions like 憎むべき (to be worthy of hatred) or 憎悪 (ぞうおく, hatred) as related noun forms.

Notes: Because of its intensity, 憎む often appears in literature, news reporting about conflict, or fictional dialogue. It is less common in casual conversation where milder terms are preferred.