当たり前
atarimae[a̠ta̠ɾʲima̠e̞]
In Japanese, "duh" can be expressed as 当たり前 (atarimae).
The term 当たり前 is used to express that something is obvious, evident or should be known. It carries a disdainful tone, similar to the English "duh".
Meaning: disdainful indication that something is obvious (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
atarimae
Did you know?
- Answering a superior with 当たり前 is considered extremely rude because it suggests the superior is stating the obvious, which violates the hierarchical nature of the language.
- While 当たり前 is a standard noun or adjective, saying it with a sharp, falling intonation can make it sound like a direct insult to the listener's intelligence.
- In some contexts, 当たり前 is used as a noun meaning 'the ordinary' or 'the expected', such as when describing a typical daily routine.
Examples in context
- 当たり前だよ。atarimae da yo.Duh, of course.
- そんなの当たり前じゃん。sonna no atarimae jan.That's obviously true.
- 当たり前のことだよ。atarimae no koto da yo.That's just common sense.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about a test they both studied for.
- 結衣 Yui蓮、勉強したの？Ren, benkyou shita no?Ren, did you study?
- 蓮 Ren当たり前。合格したいし。Atarimae. goukaku shitai shi.Duh. I want to pass.
- 結衣 Yuiまあ、そうよね。maa, sou yo ne.Well, that's true.
- 蓮 Ren結衣こそ、準備できた？Yui koso, junbi dekita?What about you, Yui? Are you ready?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “duh” translations and entries 当たり前, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
