Japanese · Exclamations
面倒くさい
mendōkusai
men-DOH-koo-sigh · /mendoːkɯ̥sai/
What a pain / can't be bothered / such a hassle
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"smells of trouble / bothersome"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Possibly the most-felt word in the language: "ugh, what a hassle." The mating call of the tired and the lazy, muttered at paperwork, replies you owe, and going outside. Clipped forms "mendokusai," "mendii," and the pure-groan "mendo" are all common. A whole personality type — the mendokusagari — is named for it.
Heard in the wild
また書類?めんどくさ…
More forms? Such a paaain...
Where it lands
Nationwide
Quick answers
- What does "面倒くさい" mean?
- In Japanese, "面倒くさい" means "What a pain / can't be bothered / such a hassle". Literally it's "smells of trouble / bothersome". Possibly the most-felt word in the language: "ugh, what a hassle." The mating call of the tired and the lazy, muttered at paperwork, replies you owe, and going outside. Clipped forms "mendokusai," "mendii," and the pure-groan "mendo" are all common. A whole personality type — the mendokusagari — is named for it.
- Is "面倒くさい" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "面倒くさい"?
- Say it "men-DOH-koo-sigh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: mendoːkɯ̥sai.
Related in Japanese
くそ kuso KOO-so Damn! / Crap! / Shit! うるさい urusai oo-roo-SIGH Shut up / you're too loud / quit nagging うざい uzai oo-ZYE Annoying / a pain in the ass 何だよ nanda yo NAHN-dah yo What the hell / what's your problem 畜生 chikushō chee-koo-SHOH Dammit! / God damn it! しまった shimatta shee-MAHT-tah Damn / oops / oh no, I blew it
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