Japanese word

やたら

Pronunciation

Romajiyatara

Meaning

  • adverbexcessively

Example

彼はやたら食べます。kare wa ya ta ra ta be ma su

He eats excessively.

Illustration for やたら (excessively)

More examples

彼女はやたらと写真を撮ります。kano jo wa ya ta ra to sha shin o to ri ma su

She takes far too many pictures.

Core concept

Expresses action that ignores a proper limit or selection and therefore becomes excessive or indiscriminate.

Common phrases

  • やたらと話しかけるya ta ra to hana shi ka ke ru

    talk to people excessively

  • やたらに質問するya ta ra ni shitsu mon su ru

    ask questions indiscriminately

Similar words

むやみにmuyamini: Describes an action carried out with too little restraint or judgment.
あまりにamarini: Describes an amount or degree that is far beyond what is suitable.
やたらめったらyataramettara: Describes repeated or excessive action without careful selection.

Definition in Japanese

物事の程度や適切さを考えず、必要以上に行うさま。mono goto no tei do ya teki setsu sa o kanga e zu hitsu yō i jō ni okona u sa ma

Word origin

やたら (yatara) is a Japanese adverb of uncertain origin, and 矢鱈 (yatara) is an ateji spelling that does not explain its meaning.

Usage tips

  • The form やたらに (yatarani) commonly comes before a verb and shows that the action is done with too little restraint, not merely that it happens often.

Other meanings

  • blindlyadverb
  • indiscriminatelyadverb

Opposites

  • ほどほどhodohodomoderatelyadverb

Word lists with this word