Japanese word

こじれる

Pronunciation

Romajikojireru

Meaning

  • verbget complicated

Example

問題がこじれます。mon dai ga ko ji re ma su

The problem gets complicated.

Illustration for こじれる (get complicated)

More examples

交渉は予想以上にこじれました。kō shō wa yo sō i jō ni ko ji re ma shi ta

The negotiations became more complicated than expected.

Core concept

A situation moves from a manageable course into a tangled state that is harder to resolve.

Common phrases

  • 話がこじれるhanashi ga ko ji re ru

    a story gets complicated

  • 事態がこじれるji tai ga ko ji re ru

    the situation gets complicated

  • 交渉がこじれるkō shō ga ko ji re ru

    negotiations get complicated

  • 人間関係がこじれるnin gen kan kei ga ko ji re ru

    human relations turn sour

Similar words

もつれるmotsureru: To become tangled or confused, especially in a relationship, dispute, or negotiation.
難航するnankōsuru: To proceed with difficulty and make slow progress because of serious obstacles.
行き詰まるikizumaru: To reach a point where no further progress or solution is possible.
紛糾するfunkyūsuru: To become confused and disorderly because of conflicting opinions or arguments.

Definition in Japanese

物事が思いどおりに進まず、問題や関係が入り組んで解決しにくい状態になる。mono goto ga omo i dō ri ni susu ma zu mon dai ya kan kei ga i ri ku n de kai ketsu shi ni ku i jō tai ni na ru

Word origin

こじれる (kojireru) is a native Japanese verb related to こじる (kojiru, "to force or pry"); it describes a matter becoming difficult to handle.

Usage tips

  • News reports often use こじれる (kojireru) for negotiations and disputes that become harder to settle, so it usually suggests an unwanted turn rather than a merely complex situation.

Other meanings

  • get worseverb
  • turn sourverb

Opposites

  • 解決するkaiketsusururesolveverb

Related words

  • こじれkojirecomplicationnoun

Word lists with this word