おせっかい
osekkai
The English phrase "nosy" is translated into Japanese as おせっかい (osekkai).
おせっかい is used to describe someone who is prying, inquisitive or curious in other’s affairs. Tending to snoop or meddle. It carries a connotation of being intrusive in a way that is annoying or unwanted.
Meaning: prying, inquisitive or curious in other’s affairs, tending to snoop or meddle (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from sekkai (interference/meddling) with the honorific prefix o added, though it is used to describe a negative trait.
Which one should you use?
While おせっかい implies meddling in a way that is annoying or unwanted, 好奇心が強い is a more neutral or positive way to say someone is highly curious.
How do you pronounce it?
osekkai
Did you know?
- In Japanese, you can describe the act of being nosy as おせっかいを焼く, which literally means 'to bake meddling'.
- While おせっかい is negative, it is often used as a self-deprecating way to offer unsolicited advice. A person might start a sentence with おせっかいですが… ('It is meddling, but…') to soften the intrusion of their suggestion.
- In Japanese professional environments, being 'nosy' is often linked to a failure to 空気を読む, which means 'to read the air'. This refers to the ability to sense a social mood without anyone speaking.
Examples in context
- 彼は少しおせっかいだ。Kare wa sukoshi osekkai da.He is a little nosy.
- おせっかいはやめてください。Osekkai wa yamete kudasai.Please stop being so meddlesome.
- おせっかいな隣人が困る。Osekkai na rinjin ga komaru.A nosy neighbor is a nuisance.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about a coworker's behavior.
- 蓮 Ren田中さんは少しおせっかいだよね。Tanaka-san wa sukoshi osekkai da yo ne.Tanaka-san is a bit nosy, isn't he?
- 美咲 Misaki本当に、いつも首を突っ込んでくる。Hontou ni, itsumo kubi o tsukkonde kuru.Really, he's always poking his nose into things.
- 蓮 Ren美咲さんはどう思う？Misaki-san wa dou omou?What do you think, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misakiちょっと困るレベルだよ。Chotto komaru reberu da yo.It's at a level that's actually quite annoying.
