ひどい目に遭う

hidoi me ni au

to have a rough time

彼はひどい目に遭った。

He had a really tough time.

◆ What It Really Means

To go through a very difficult or unpleasant experience, often unexpectedly or unfairly.

¶ Literal Meaning

To encounter a terrible situation or event.

Literal Breakdown

ひどいterrible+目に遭うto encounter

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of someone facing a very difficult or unpleasant situation, often with a sense of unfairness or surprise.

◈ When to Use

A friend tells you about a recent incident where they were treated unfairly at work, and you respond with 'ひどい目に遭ったね' to express sympathy for their tough experience.

◉ Cultural Note

This phrase reflects the Japanese cultural emphasis on fairness and the importance of empathy in social interactions.

informal

To experience something very difficult or unpleasant, often unexpectedly or unfairly.

その事故で彼はひどい目に遭った。

He had a really rough experience in that accident.

ネットで炎上してひどい目に遭った。

He got flamed online and had a really tough time.

This phrase is often used to describe situations where someone suffers unfairly or unexpectedly.

Collocations

ひどい目に遭うto have a rough time

Synonyms

ひどい目にあう苦労する苦しむ

Antonyms

楽しむ幸せになる

Related Phrases

ひどい目にあうphrase

to have a rough time

苦労するphrase

to suffer

Pro Tip

Usage Context

This phrase is often used when someone has gone through an unexpected or unfair hardship.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While useful, avoid using this phrase for minor inconveniences to maintain its impact.

Word Origin

Combination of ひどい (hidoi, meaning 'terrible' or 'severe') and 目に遭う (me ni au, meaning 'to experience' or 'to encounter').

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe difficult or unpleasant experiences.

Word Breakdown

ひどい

terrible

adjective

目に遭う

to experience

verb phrase

和英辞典

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