kitanai

Kitanai is a Japanese adjective written in kanji as 汚い and read きたない (kitanai). It primarily means dirty, unclean, or filthy, and is used to describe objects, places, and surfaces that lack cleanliness. The word can also be applied metaphorically to describe morally questionable behavior or a dirty appearance, though in such cases it may carry a stronger or more critical nuance.

As an i-adjective, kitanai follows standard conjugation patterns. The dictionary form is kitanai. The negative form is kitanakunai (not dirty), and the past tense is kitanakatta (was dirty). The te-form is kitanakute, used to connect with other predicates (for example, “the room is dirty and cold” would be expressed with the te-form in practical sentences). The adverbial form is kitanaku, used in certain constructions, though many speakers simply use the adjective directly before nouns or with other predicates.

Common contexts include physical cleanliness, such as rooms, clothes, or utensils: “heya ga kitanai” (the room is dirty). It also appears in warnings or judgments about hygiene or sanitation. The term can be considered blunt or impolite when applied to people; softer alternatives for describing a person’s cleanliness might be “fuketsu” (unclean) or more polite phrasing depending on the situation.

Related terms include noyō “汚れる” (to get dirty), “汚れ” (dirt, stain), and the antonym “kirei” (clean/beautiful). More formal or clinical words for cleanliness include “seiketsu” (keep clean).