What does it mean word for word?
Literally, いい加減にして means "make it a moderate amount," implying the person has gone too far and needs to return to a reasonable level.
Which one should you use?
You can change the intensity by altering the ending. Using いい加減にしろ makes the command much harsher and more aggressive. Conversely, using いい加減にしてください turns the expression into a polite request to be reasonable or to stop, though it still carries a tone of exasperation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite request, use やめてください (please stop) or the very polite お止めください (please cease). For informal situations, やめろ acts as a blunt "stop it," while the softer and friendlier やめてよ can be used between friends or acquaintances. The default form いい加減にして can be made rougher with いい加減にしろ or more polite with いい加減にしてください.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form いい加減にして uses the te-form of the verb suru (to do), which functions as a soft command or request in this context.
How do you pronounce it?
iikagen ni shite
Did you know?
- While いい加減 means 'moderate' in this phrase, it can also mean 'half-baked' or 'sloppy' when describing someone's work or personality.
- The word 加減 (kagen) originally refers to 'addition and subtraction', reflecting a mathematical approach to finding a balanced 'moderate' state.
- If you say いい加減にして to a superior, it is almost always an insult because it implies they are behaving unreasonably, regardless of how politely you end the verb.
Examples in context
- 会議中に話し声をやめてください。Please stop talking during the meeting.
- もうやめろ！Cut it out already!
- その冗談、やめてよ。Please stop with that joke.
- いい加減にして！ii kagen ni shite!Cut it out!
- もう、いい加減にしてよ。mou, ii kagen ni shite yo.Seriously, cut it out already.
- いい加減にしてくれない？ii kagen ni shite kurenai?Can you just cut it out?
Example conversation
Misaki is trying to study while Hiroto keeps making loud noises.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔、うるさいよ。Hiroto, urusai yo.Hiroto, you're being noisy.
- 大翔 Hirotoちょっと遊んでるだけだよ。Chotto asonderu dake da yo.I'm just playing around a little.
- 美咲 Misakiいい加減にして！集中できない。ii kagen ni shite! shuuchuu dekinai.Cut it out! I can't concentrate.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかった、ごめん。wakatta, gomen.Okay, sorry.
