Japanese word

厄介

Pronunciation

Romajiyakkai

Meaning

  • na-adjectivetroublesome

Example

この問題は厄介です。ko no mon dai wa yak kai de su

This problem is troublesome.

Illustration for 厄介 (troublesome)

More examples

この手続きは思ったより厄介でした。ko no te tsuzu ki wa omo tta yo ri yak kai de shi ta

This procedure was more troublesome than I expected.

Core concept

Describes something that causes difficulty or extra work when it must be dealt with.

Common phrases

  • 厄介な問題yak kai na mon dai

    troublesome problem

  • 厄介な相手yak kai na ai te

    troublesome person

  • 厄介な手続きyak kai na te tsuzu ki

    troublesome procedure

Similar words

面倒mendō: Describes a task or situation that takes extra time and effort to complete.
迷惑meiwaku: Describes conduct or a condition that places an unwanted burden on another person.
大変taihen: Describes a matter that is hard to manage and requires much work or care.
困難konnan: Describes a matter that is hard to accomplish because it presents major obstacles.

Definition in Japanese

扱いに手間がかかり、解決や対処が容易でないさま。atsuka i ni te ma ga ka ka ri kai ketsu ya tai sho ga yō i de na i sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 厄介 (yakkai) combines 厄 (yaku, "misfortune") with 介 (kai, "involvement"), giving the word its sense of a troublesome matter.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 厄介 (yakkai) can describe a person as well as a problem, with attention usually placed on the trouble involved in dealing with that person.

Other meanings

  • difficultna-adjective
  • annoyingna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 厄介さyakkaisatroublesomenessnoun
  • 厄介者yakkaishatroublesome personnoun

Word lists with this word