While there are a couple of ways to say ” to ignore someone ” in Japanese, I wanted to look at one word that you may not learn in a classroom, but you will absolutely see in shoujo manga! This is a suru verb, meaning that it can work as both a noun and a verb.
There is the connotation of someone being ignored on purpose when using this word.
Note: the cover photo is from chapter 1, volume 1 of Neko to Kiss.
What’s the Japanese word for “to ignore someone”?
We can say this in Japanese with the word: Shikato .
The kanji, it’s meaning, and it’s reading in katakana
We don’t use kanji to write this word.
We can write shikato using katakana like this: シカト
Even though this word is written using katakana, it’s not a loan word! \
Let’s try using シカト・shikato in a sentence!
Example 1
English: Why are you ignoring me?
Romaji only: Nande shikato suru no?
Hiragana only: なんで シカト する の？
Note: This is a very casual word. We wouldn’t use this word with anyone we’re not very close with. That’s why this is a very casual sentence, written in a casual tone of voice.
Example 2
English: I wonder why everyone is ignoring me…
Romaji only: nande minna ni shikato sareteiru darou…
Hiragana only: なんで みんな に シカト されている だろう。。。
Example 3
English: Stop ignoring me already.
Romaji only: Mou shikato wa yamete kudasai.
Hiragana only: もう シカト は やめて ください。
Final: もうシカトは辞めてください。
Example 4
English: After fighting with my boyfriend, he’s been ignoring me… (i’ve been being ignored)
Romaji only: Kareshi to kenka shite kara, zutto shikato sareteiru…
Hiragana only: かれし と けんか して から、ずっと シカト されている。。。
Final: 彼氏と喧嘩してから、ずっとシカトされている。。。
Example 5
English: Ignoring someone like that… How childish.
Romaji only: Hito no koto o shikato suru nante… kodomo ppoi yo ne.
Hiragana only: ひと の こと を シカト する なんて。。。こども っぽい よ ね。
Final: 人のことをシカトするなんて。。。子供っぽいよね。
And that’s シカト!
Was my post helpful? I hope you learnt something! If you want to support me so that I can continue to share my love of all things shoujo, you can always buy me a coffee!
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