Meaning and Usage
The adjective しつこい is often used to describe something or someone that is persistent or stubborn in a negative way. It can refer to people who are annoyingly insistent, such as a salesperson who won't take no for an answer, or to flavors and smells that are too strong or lingering.
Common Contexts
- When describing people, しつこい implies annoyance due to repeated or excessive behavior.
- When describing taste or smell, it means heavy, rich, or lingering in an unpleasant way.
Collocations and Patterns
- しつこい質問 (persistent question): used when someone keeps asking the same thing repeatedly.
- しつこいセールスマン (persistent salesman): a common phrase for pushy salespeople.
- しつこい味 (heavy or lingering taste): often used in food reviews.
Register and Nuance
This word is informal and often carries a negative nuance. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to express mild irritation or dislike.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse しつこい with simply "strong" or "intense" in a positive sense. Remember, しつこい usually implies something unpleasantly persistent or excessive.