هذا لا يعجبني
Hadha la yu'jibuni
This doesn't please me
Wörtlich: This not pleasing-to-me
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to say 'I don't like this' regarding objects or ideas.
- Very common in Egyptian dialect for daily life and shopping.
- Change 'da' to 'di' for feminine items you dislike.
Bedeutung
This is the go-to way to say 'I don't like this' or 'I'm not feeling this' in Egyptian Arabic. It is used to express that something doesn't suit your taste or meet your expectations.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 7Shopping for clothes
اللون ده مش عاجبني خالص.
I don't like this color at all.
Trying a new restaurant
الأكل ده مش عاجبني، ملوش طعم.
I don't like this food, it has no taste.
Reviewing a work draft
التصميم ده مش عاجبني، محتاجين نغيره.
I don't like this design, we need to change it.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Egypt, saying 'Da mish 'agibni' is often the start of a negotiation. It doesn't necessarily mean 'no' forever; it means 'show me something better or lower the price.' People in Lebanon and Syria might use 'Ma habbayt' (I didn't love it) more frequently in casual settings to express the same sentiment with a bit more emotion. In the Gulf, politeness is key. You might add 'Wallah' (By God) or 'Ma 'alayk zawd' to soften the blow of saying you don't like something. In Morocco, the influence of French 'Ça ne me plaît pas' is strong, and the local 'Ma ye'jebnish' is used very directly in markets.
Softening the Blow
Add 'Ma'al asaf' (Unfortunately) or 'Bisaraha' (Honestly) before the phrase to sound more polite.
Gender Agreement
Always check if the object is feminine. If it is, use 'tu'jibuni' instead of 'yu'jibuni'.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to say 'I don't like this' regarding objects or ideas.
- Very common in Egyptian dialect for daily life and shopping.
- Change 'da' to 'di' for feminine items you dislike.
What It Means
ده مش عاجبني is your bread and butter for expressing dislike. It is not about hate or anger. It is about personal taste. Think of it as saying 'This doesn't do it for me.' You use it for objects, ideas, or even situations. It is direct but very common in daily life.
How To Use It
The phrase centers on the word عاجب. This word means 'pleasing.' The ني at the end means 'me.' If you are talking about a masculine object, use ده. For a feminine object, switch to دي مش عاجباني. It is a flexible phrase. You can add خالص (khales) at the end for 'not at all.' You can also add أوي (awi) for 'not very much.' It is simple, effective, and very Egyptian.
When To Use It
Use it when you are shopping and a shirt looks weird. Use it at a restaurant if the soup is bland. It is perfect for giving feedback to a friend. If someone suggests a movie you hate, say it. It works well in casual work meetings too. It shows you have a clear opinion. It is a staple of the Egyptian dialect.
When NOT To Use It
Be careful with people much older than you. It can sound a bit blunt or dismissive. Avoid using it for people's gifts right to their face. That might hurt feelings! If your boss works hard on a project, be softer. Maybe say ممكن نغير فيه (we could change it) instead. Also, don't use it for people. Saying a person 'doesn't please you' sounds very arrogant.
Cultural Background
Egyptians are very expressive and opinionated people. We love to share our tastes. This phrase reflects that honesty. In Egypt, 'liking' something is often framed as the object 'pleasing' you. It puts the focus on your personal reaction. It is a very 'active' way of describing your feelings. You will hear this in every Egyptian movie ever made.
Common Variations
You might hear مش داخل دماغي (it’s not entering my head). This means 'I’m not convinced.' Another one is مش ذوقي (not my taste). If you want to be stronger, use زي الزفت (like pitch/trash). But stick to ده مش عاجبني for most situations. It is the safest and most natural choice for a B1 learner.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is very safe for intermediate learners. Just remember to match the gender of the object you are talking about to avoid sounding like a beginner.
Softening the Blow
Add 'Ma'al asaf' (Unfortunately) or 'Bisaraha' (Honestly) before the phrase to sound more polite.
Gender Agreement
Always check if the object is feminine. If it is, use 'tu'jibuni' instead of 'yu'jibuni'.
The Egyptian 'Active Participle'
In Egypt, use 'Mish 'agibni' for a more native feel. It sounds less like a textbook and more like a local.
Beispiele
7اللون ده مش عاجبني خالص.
I don't like this color at all.
Adding 'khales' makes the dislike very clear.
الأكل ده مش عاجبني، ملوش طعم.
I don't like this food, it has no taste.
A common way to complain about bland food.
التصميم ده مش عاجبني، محتاجين نغيره.
I don't like this design, we need to change it.
Direct but professional enough for a creative team.
الأغنية دي مش عاجباني، قديمة أوي.
I don't like this song, it's very old.
Note the change to 'di' and 'agbani' for the feminine word 'song'.
الموضوع ده مش عاجبني، بلاش نروح.
I'm not feeling this idea, let's not go.
Used to reject a suggestion or plan.
إيه ده؟ الحلاقة دي مش عاجباني يا صاحبي!
What's this? I don't like this haircut, my friend!
Playful teasing between close friends.
الطريقة دي مش عاجباني في الكلام.
I don't like this way of speaking.
Used when someone is being rude or annoying.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'ajaba' for a feminine object.
هذه الحقيبة لا _______ (يعجب)ـني.
Since 'Haqiba' (bag) is feminine, the verb must start with 't'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I don't like this' in a formal setting?
اختر الجملة الصحيحة:
'Hādhā lā yu'jibunī' is the standard neutral/formal expression.
Match the dialect to the variation of the phrase.
Match the following:
These are the standard regional variations.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: A friend suggests a restaurant you hate.
This is a polite way to suggest an alternative.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenهذه الحقيبة لا _______ (يعجب)ـني.
Since 'Haqiba' (bag) is feminine, the verb must start with 't'.
اختر الجملة الصحيحة:
'Hādhā lā yu'jibunī' is the standard neutral/formal expression.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the standard regional variations.
Situation: A friend suggests a restaurant you hate.
This is a polite way to suggest an alternative.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenYes, but be careful. 'Hādhā al-rajul lā yu'jibunī' means 'I don't like this man' (his personality or vibe). It's quite strong.
'Uhibbu' is 'I love/like' (internal feeling). 'Yu'jibuni' is 'It appeals to me' (external stimulus).
Use 'A'jabani' (أعجبني). The 'y' changes to an 'a' at the beginning.
Not if you say it politely. It's better to say 'This dish didn't please me' than 'This food is bad'.
For non-human things, use 'Hādhihi lā tu'jibunī'. For people, use 'Ha'ulā' lā yu'jibūnanī'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
لا أحب هذا
similarI don't like this
هذا سيء
contrastThis is bad
ليس من ذوقي
synonymNot my taste
ما عجبني
specialized formIt didn't please me (Past tense)