Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 詰まらない | tsumaranai | [t͡sɨma̠ɾa̠na̠i] (narrow) |
| 無価値な | mukachi na | |
| 軽賎な | keisen na |
Japanese uses different terms for 'worthless' based on whether you are describing something boring, something with no objective value or someone of low social standing. Use 詰まらない for things that lack interest or are trivial, 無価値な for things that have zero monetary or objective value and 軽賎な to describe someone with an insignificant character or low social status.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 詰まらない literally means 'not packed' or 'not full', but it is used idiomatically to mean 'boring' or 'worthless' in terms of entertainment value.
Which one should you use?
While 詰まらない is commonly used to describe something as boring or trivial, 無価値な is specifically used for things that have zero objective or monetary value.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
無価値な is a formal term meaning 'without value'. 軽賎な is a formal, literary term often used to describe a person of insignificant character or low social status.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Western Japan, the form くだんない is used instead of くだらない to mean worthless or without value.
How does it change in a sentence?
無価値な is a na-adjective, which means it requires the particle な when it directly precedes a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
tsumaranai
Did you know?
- The word 詰まらない originally meant that something was 'blocked' or 'clogged'. The sense of being 'worthless' or 'boring' comes from the idea of something being stuck or not flowing freely.
- Using 無価値な to describe a person can sound strangely cold, as it reduces a human being to a piece of property with zero monetary value.
- In Japanese, describing a person as 軽賎な is a severe social judgment. It suggests not just that they are 'worthless' but that they lack the basic dignity and moral standing required for respectable society.
Examples in context
- 彼の提案は無価値だと思います。I believe his proposal is worthless.
- この本は役に立たない情報しか含んでいません。This book contains only worthless information.
- その映画は本当にくだらなかった。That movie was truly worthless.
- このゲームは役に立たないからやめよう。Let's quit playing this game, it's worthless.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are talking about a boring movie they just watched.
- 陽太 Yotaあの映画は本当に詰まらないね。ano eiga wa hontou ni tsumaranai ne.That movie was really worthless, wasn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariそうね。時間の無駄だったわ。sou ne. jikan no muda datta wa.You're right. It was a waste of time.
- 陽太 Yota次からは評判をよく調べよう。tsugi kara wa hyouban o yoku shirabeyou.Let's check the reviews more carefully next time.
- 陽葵 Himari賛成。次は面白い映画を見たいわ。sansei. tsugi wa omoshiroi eiga o mitai wa.I agree. I want to see an interesting movie next time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “worthless” translations and entries 詰まらない, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 詰まらない, CC BY-SA 4.0.
