Japanese word

呆れる

Pronunciation

Romajiakireru

Meaning

  • verbbe fed up

Example

弟の態度には呆れています。otōto no tai do ni wa aki re te i ma su

I am fed up with my brother's attitude.

Illustration for 呆れる (be fed up)

More examples

店員の説明が毎回変わるので、私は呆れました。ten in no setsu mei ga mai kai ka wa ru no de watashi wa aki re ma shi ta

I was fed up because the clerk's explanation changed every time.

Core concept

Describes reaching a point where another person's behavior is so unreasonable that patience gives way to exasperation or stunned disbelief.

Common phrases

  • 呆れてものも言えないaki re te mo no mo i e na i

    be too appalled to say anything

  • 呆れた話aki re ta hanashi

    an outrageous story

  • 呆れた人aki re ta hito

    an exasperating person

Similar words

うんざりするunzarisuru: To feel tired and annoyed because unpleasant behavior or events continue.
辟易するhekiekisuru: To feel strongly put off by something unpleasant that keeps happening.
あきれ果てるakirehateru: To be completely stunned by behavior that is extremely unreasonable.

Definition in Japanese

相手の言動があまりにひどく、驚きや困惑のために我慢する気持ちを失うこと。ai te no gen dō ga a ma ri ni hi do ku odoro ki ya kon waku no ta me ni ga man su ru ki mo chi o ushina u ko to

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 呆れる (akireru) comes from the older form あきる (akiru), meaning "to become weary or tired of something," and developed the sense of being stunned by extreme behavior.

Usage tips

  • English be fed up usually stresses tired annoyance, while 呆れる (akireru) can also express stunned disbelief at behavior that seems unusually unreasonable.

Other meanings

  • be appalledverb
  • be exasperatedverb

Opposites

  • 感心するkanshinsuruadmireverb

Word lists with this word