いい加減にして
The English phrase "give me a break" can be translated into Japanese as いい加減にして.
いい加減にして is used when someone's behavior, repetitive actions or nonsense has become annoying or intolerable.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form いい加減にして is blunt and confrontational. For a more polite approach, use いい加減にしてください. Conversely, いい加減にしろ is an informal and rough way to tell someone to knock it off.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the sentence-ending particle よ to the phrase to create いい加減にしてよ, which adds emotional emphasis to express frustration or exasperation.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, いい加減 can be a compliment. If someone's seasoning of food is いい加減, it means it is 'just right'.
- The phrase contains the word 加減, which refers to the act of adding or subtracting. It literally describes the process of adjusting a level to reach a point of sufficiency.
- The phrase いい加減 (ii kagen) literally translates to 'a good degree' or 'an appropriate amount'.
Examples in context
- いい加減にしてよ。言いたいことがあるなら、そんな顔してないで何か言いなさいよ。Give me a break. If you have something to say, stop making faces and say it.This sentence is useful for expressing frustration when someone is making faces instead of speaking their mind using いい加減にして.Tatoeba #10761240 by bunbuku, translation #24998 by CK
- いい加減にして！ii kagen ni shite!Give me a break!
- もう、いい加減にしてよ。mou, ii kagen ni shite yo.Oh, cut it out already.
Example conversation
Misaki is teasing Daigaku about a mistake he made.
- 美咲 Misakiまた間違えたの？本当にすごいね。Mata machigaeta no? Hontō ni sugoi ne.You made another mistake? You're really something.
- 大翔 Hirotoいい加減にして。もう疲れたよ。Ii kagen ni shite. Mō tsukareta yo.Give me a break. I'm already exhausted.
- 美咲 Misaki冗談だよ。そんなに怒らないで。Jōdan da yo. Sonna ni okora naide.I'm just kidding. Don't be so angry.
- 大翔 Hiroto次は絶対に間違えないから。Tsugi wa zettai ni machigaenai kara.I definitely won't make a mistake next time.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
