Meaning and Usage
The adjective 煩わしい (わずらわしい) describes something that is burdensome, troublesome, or complicated, often causing annoyance or fatigue. It is commonly used to express irritation with tasks, relationships, or procedures that feel unnecessarily complex or bothersome.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 煩わしい used in daily life when talking about paperwork, social interactions, or any situation that involves tedious or complicated steps. It carries a slightly negative nuance, implying that the speaker finds the matter annoying or a hassle.
Collocations and Patterns
- 煩わしい手続き (わずらわしいてつづき): troublesome procedures, often bureaucratic or administrative.
- 煩わしい人間関係 (わずらわしいにんげんかんけい): complicated or annoying human relationships.
- 煩わしい説明 (わずらわしいせつめい): complicated or lengthy explanations.
These collocations highlight common situations where 煩わしい is naturally used.
Register and Politeness
煩わしい is neutral to slightly informal and is suitable for everyday conversation. It can be used in polite contexts but is more common in casual speech when expressing personal feelings of annoyance.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 煩わしい with 煩い (うるさい), which means "noisy" or "annoying" in a different sense. 煩わしい focuses on complexity and hassle, while 煩い refers more to loudness or irritation caused by noise or behavior. Remember to use 煩わしい when emphasizing troublesome complexity rather than noise.