迷惑な
meiwakuna
The Japanese word for disturbing is 迷惑な (meiwakuna).
迷惑な is used to describe something that is disturbing, annoying or bothersome. While it can mean causing distress, it is most commonly used to describe behaviors or situations that act as an inconvenience or a nuisance to other people.
Meaning: causing distress or worry (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the noun 迷惑, which refers to trouble, inconvenience or a nuisance caused to others.
Which one should you use?
Use 迷惑な when the distress is caused by an inconvenience or a nuisance to others. In contrast, use 不快な when describing something that is simply unpleasant or offensive to the senses or feelings.
How does it change in a sentence?
迷惑な is an adjectival noun (na-adjective) used to describe something that is a nuisance or causes distress.
How do you pronounce it?
meiwakuna
Did you know?
- The Japanese language has a specific term called 迷惑料 (meiwakuryō), which refers to a monetary payment made to compensate someone for the 'disturbing' inconvenience caused to them.
- In Japanese etiquette, the most polite way to avoid being 'disturbing' is to master the art of 'kuuki wo yomu', which literally means 'reading the air' to sense if your presence is a nuisance.
- The concept of 迷惑 (meiwaku) is so powerful that some Japanese people feel an intense psychological burden called 'meiwaku-kan' when they believe they have inconvenienced someone, even if the other person does not mind.
Examples in context
- その映画は、気味悪いシーンが多くて怖かったです。That movie had many disturbing scenes and was scary.
- 彼の発言は、不快な印象を与えました。His remarks gave an unpleasant impression.
- この写真、気持ち悪いから見るのやめて。Stop looking at this photo, it's disturbing.
- 大きな音は迷惑な行為です。Ookina oto wa meiwaku na koui desu.Making loud noises is a disturbing behavior.
- 隣の家の音楽が迷惑なほどうるさい。Tonari no ie no ongaku ga meiwaku na hodo urusai.The music from the neighbor's house is disturbingly loud.
Example conversation
Two neighbors are discussing a noisy person in their apartment building.
- 美咲 Misaki夜中の騒音は本当に迷惑なことですね。Yonaka no souon wa hontou ni meiwaku na koto desu ne.The noise in the middle of the night is truly disturbing, isn't it?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、美咲さんの言う通りです。Hai, Misaki-san no iu toori desu.Yes, it is exactly as you say, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さん、管理人に相談しましょう。Youta-san, kanrinin ni soudan shimashou.Youta, let's consult the building manager.
- 陽太 Yotaそうしましょう。困っていますから。Sou shimashou. Komatte imasu kara.Let's do that. It's a real problem.
