Meaning
A room that is not clean or tidy.
Cultural Background
School children in Japan are responsible for cleaning their own classrooms (Soji). This instills a lifelong aversion to a '{汚|きたな}い{部屋|へや}'. The 'Genkan' (entrance) is the most important part of the house to keep clean. A '{汚|きたな}い{玄関|げんかん}' is considered much worse than a '{汚|きたな}い{部屋|へや}'. The concept of 'Danshari' (refuse, dispose, separate) became a huge trend in Japan to combat the problem of cluttered rooms. The 'Depression Room' trend on social media has made people more comfortable sharing photos of their '{汚|きたな}い{部屋|へや}' to reduce stigma around mental health.
Softening the blow
If you must mention a mess, use '{少|すこ}し' (a little) to make it less harsh: '{少|すこ}し{汚|きたな}いですね'.
Adjective Type
Remember '{汚|きたな}い' is an i-adjective. Never say '{汚|きたな}いだ'.
Meaning
A room that is not clean or tidy.
Softening the blow
If you must mention a mess, use '{少|すこ}し' (a little) to make it less harsh: '{少|すこ}し{汚|きたな}いですね'.
Adjective Type
Remember '{汚|きたな}い' is an i-adjective. Never say '{汚|きたな}いだ'.
The 'Humble' Lie
Japanese hosts almost always say their room is dirty, even if it's spotless. Just smile and disagree!
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the adjective to complete the sentence.
{昨日|きのう}、{私|わたし}の{部屋|へや}はとても（ ）です。
Since the sentence starts with '{昨日|きのう}' (yesterday), you need the past tense form '{汚|きたな}かった'.
Fill in the blank with the correct particle.
{部屋|へや}（ ）{汚|きたな}いです。
The particle 'が' is used to mark the subject that is being described by the adjective.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
When would you say '{部屋|へや}が{汚|きたな}くて、すみません'?
This is a standard apology for the state of your own home.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {掃除|そうじ}をしましたか？ B: いいえ、まだです。{部屋|へや}は（ ）。
If B hasn't cleaned yet, the room is likely still dirty.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
What makes a room '{汚|きたな}い'?
Items
- • Clothes
- • Books
- • Trash
Dirt
- • Dust
- • Stains
- • Mud
Practice Bank
4 exercises{昨日|きのう}、{私|わたし}の{部屋|へや}はとても（ ）です。
Since the sentence starts with '{昨日|きのう}' (yesterday), you need the past tense form '{汚|きたな}かった'.
{部屋|へや}（ ）{汚|きたな}いです。
The particle 'が' is used to mark the subject that is being described by the adjective.
When would you say '{部屋|へや}が{汚|きたな}くて、すみません'?
This is a standard apology for the state of your own home.
A: {掃除|そうじ}をしましたか？ B: いいえ、まだです。{部屋|へや}は（ ）。
If B hasn't cleaned yet, the room is likely still dirty.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt depends on who you are talking to. With friends, it's fine. With strangers or superiors, it's very rude.
The opposite is '{綺麗|きれい}な' (kirei-na), which means clean or beautiful.
Yes, '{汚|きたな}い{机|つくえ}' is perfectly natural.
You say '{部屋|へや}が{汚|きたな}くなってきました' (Heya ga kitanaku natte kimashita).
'{汚|きたな}い' is a general state, while '{汚|よご}れている' often means something specific has a stain or dirt on it.
'{汚|きたな}い{部屋|へや}を{掃除|そうじ}しなさい！' (Kitanai heya wo souji shinasai!)
It is a very casual, rough, masculine version of '{汚|きたな}い'. You'll hear it in anime a lot.
Yes, in the context of a game or business, '{汚|きたな}い' can mean 'cheating' or 'underhanded'.
No, but it's the most common for a bedroom or living space. '{室|しつ}' is used in compounds like '{教室|きょうしつ}' (classroom).
'{汚|きたな}い{部屋|へや}には{慣|な}れています' (Kitanai heya ni wa narete imasu).
Related Phrases
{綺麗|きれい}な{部屋|へや}
contrastA clean/beautiful room
{散|ち}らかった{部屋|へや}
similarA cluttered room
ゴミ{屋敷|やしき}
specialized formTrash mansion
{不潔|ふけつ}な{部屋|へや}
similarAn unhygienic room
