What the word -itai- (painful) means in Japanese

I am ashamed to admit this, but I do regularly read the “itai news.”

The word “itai,” means painful, in Japanese.

Instead of saying “ouch!”  Japanese people say “ita!” (contraction of ifai.)

Recently, the word “itai” gained a new meaning.  Painfully embarrassing.

I was a bit taken aback, when one of my acquaintances were using the word “itai” to describe a person.  Well, now, people can use the word “itai” to describe something that is so bad, that it is painful to watch.

So basically, itai news posts the painfully embarrassing/humiliating news that took place in the world, and bored netizens commenting on it.  The examples soon to follow.

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