What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of とても (totemo), meaning "very" and 退屈 (taikutsu), meaning "boredom/tedium".
Which one should you use?
While とても退屈 describes the quality of an event or thing, you should use 退屈している to describe a person's state of feeling bored. Other variations include 非常に退屈, 非常につまらない for a "very dull" sensation and 全く面白くない to express that something is "not interesting at all". For extreme emphasis, you can use 退屈極まりない to mean "utterly boring" or the hyperbolic 死ぬほどつまらない, which literally translates to "boring enough to die".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or sophisticated situations, use 非常に退屈 or 非常につまらない. In informal settings, you can use とてもつまらない or 超つまんない.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 退屈 as an adjective to modify a noun directly, you must add な after it, resulting in とても退屈な. To end a sentence with "is very boring" in a plain/informal way, add だ to the end, forming とても退屈だ.
How do you pronounce it?
totemo taikutsu
Did you know?
- The word つまらない (tsumaranai) can be used as a humble expression when giving a gift, implying the item is 'trivial' or 'not worthy' of the recipient.
- Depending on the context, つまらない can describe a person who is 'stingy' or 'narrow-minded' rather than just boring to be around.
- If you call a person 'boring' using the word つまらない (tsumaranai), you might accidentally imply that the person themselves is 'trivial' or 'insignificant' in value.
Examples in context
- ジェーンはとても退屈な週末を過ごした。Jane had a very boring weekend.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use とても退屈 to describe a weekend.Tatoeba #216485 by bunbuku, translation #490251 by CN
- 例えば、その講演は非常に退屈だった。For example, that lecture was very boring.
- この本は非常につまらないです。This book is very boring.
- 今日の映画はとてもつまらなかったよ。Today's movie was very boring.
- あの授業は超つまんなかった！That class was extremely boring!
- あの番組めちゃくちゃつまんねえわ。That TV show is incredibly boring.
- この映画はとても退屈だ。Kono eiga wa totemo taikutsu da.This movie is very boring.
- 待ち合わせの時間、とても退屈でした。Machiawase no jikan, totemo taikutsu deshita.I was very bored while waiting for our meeting.
Example conversation
Two friends are waiting at a train station.
- 大翔 Hiroto電車が来なくて、とても退屈だね。Densha ga konakute, totemo taikutsu da ne.The train isn't coming, it's very boring, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yui本当に。何か面白い話はない？Hontou ni. Nanika omoshiroi hanashi wa nai?Really. Do you have any interesting stories?
- 大翔 Hirotoうーん、特にないよ。Uun, tokuni nai yo.Hmm, not really.
- 結衣 Yuiやっぱり退屈だね。Yappari taikutsu da ne.It is boring after all.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
