Japanese Conversation · Level 84
60 words
Japanese word
こだわる
Pronunciation
Romajikodawaru
Meaning
- verbbe particular about
Example
私は食べ物にこだわります。watashi wa ta be mono ni ko da wa ri ma su
I am particular about food.
More examples
この店は食材の新鮮さにこだわっています。ko no mise wa shoku zai no shin sen sa ni ko da wa tte i ma su
This restaurant is particular about the freshness of its ingredients.
Core concept
It describes keeping a personal standard in mind and refusing to compromise easily on details.
Common phrases
素材にこだわるso zai ni ko da wa ru
be particular about materials
食材にこだわるshoku zai ni ko da wa ru
be particular about ingredients
Similar words
凝るkoru: To give special care to the details of making or choosing something.
執着するshūchakusuru: To stay strongly attached to a detail, idea, or preference and resist letting it go.
固執するkoshitsusuru: To insist on one idea or way and refuse to change it.
Definition in Japanese
食べ物などについて、自分なりの基準を持ち、細かな点まで気を配って選んだり扱ったりする。ta be mono na do ni tsu i te ji bun na ri no ki jun o mo chi koma ka na ten ma de ki o kuba tte era n da ri atsuka tta ri su ru
Word origin
The native verb こだわる (kodawaru) is related to the older form こだはる (kodaharu), which meant being hindered or held back; that sense later developed into insisting on a particular standard.
Usage tips
- In everyday Japanese, こだわる (kodawaru) can describe careful craftsmanship as well as excessive fixation, so its tone depends on context.
Other meanings
- stick toverb
- obsess oververb
Opposites
- 妥協するdakyōsurucompromiseverb
Related words
- こだわりkodawariattention to detailnoun