執着している
shūchaku shite iru
The English phrase "obsessed" can be translated into Japanese as 執着している (shūchaku shite iru).
執着している is used to describe being intensely preoccupied with a topic or emotion. It often carries a nuance of being unable to let go of something or being stuck on it, which can sometimes imply a slightly negative connotation of being overly attached.
Meaning: Intensely preoccupied with or by a given topic or emotion, driven by a specified obsession (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the noun 執着, which means attachment, obsession or tenacity, combined with the verbal form to indicate a state of being.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 執着している uses the continuous form of the verb 執着する to describe the ongoing state of being obsessed.
How do you pronounce it?
shūchaku shite iru
Did you know?
- In modern Japanese slang, the word 沼 (numa), meaning 'swamp' or 'bog', is used to describe being obsessed with a new interest. Saying you are 'in a swamp' means you are sinking into a deep, inescapable obsession.
- While 執着している focuses on attachment, if you want to describe a more 'crazy' or 'fanatical' obsession, Japanese speakers often use the word 中毒 (chūdoku). This literally means 'poisoning' or 'addiction', such as being 'addicted' to a hobby.
- The noun 執着 is deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy, where it refers to the spiritual trap of being overly attached to worldly desires. In this context, obsession is seen as a fundamental cause of human suffering.
Examples in context
- 彼は音楽に夢中です。He is obsessed with music.
- 彼女はアニメに熱中しています。She is obsessed with anime.
- 彼は勝利に執着しています。He is obsessed with winning.
- 彼はゲームにハマってる。He is obsessed with video games.
- 彼女は映画に夢中になっている。She is obsessed with movies.
- 私は音楽がめちゃめちゃ好きです。I am obsessed with music.
- 彼は過去の失敗に執着している。Kare wa kako no shippai ni shuuchaku shite iru.He is obsessed with his past failures.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a person's hobby.
- 美咲 Misaki彼は最近、株に執着しているみたい。Kare wa saikin, kabu ni shuuchaku shite iru mitai.It seems like he is obsessed with stocks lately.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に、毎日ずっとチャートを見ているよ。Hontou ni, mainichi zutto chaato o mite iru yo.Really, he is looking at charts every single day.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんも、少し心配じゃない？Hiroto-san mo, sukoshi shinpai janai?Aren't you a little worried, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、少しやりすぎている気がする。Un, sukoshi yarisugite iru ki ga suru.Yeah, I feel like he is overdoing it.
