億劫(おっくう)

おっくう
na-adjective
bothersome; troublesome; tiresome
1. bothersome; troublesome; tiresome; tedious
Feeling that something is too much effort or bother to do. Describes the reluctance to do something because it seems tiresome or inconvenient.
外出(がいしゅつ)するのが億劫(おっくう)だ。
I find it too bothersome to go out.
雨(あめ)の日(ひ)は買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)くのが億劫(おっくう)になる。
On rainy days, going shopping becomes tiresome.
歳(とし)を取(と)ると、何(なに)をするのも億劫(おっくう)になってくる。
As you get older, everything starts to feel like too much effort.

USAGE:

  • 〜するのが億劫(おっくう)だ (it's bothersome to do 〜)
  • 億劫(おっくう)に思(おも)う (to find something tiresome)
  • 億劫(おっくう)になる (to become bothersome/tedious)

NUANCE:
Expresses a feeling of "I know I should do this, but I really don't want to make the effort." It's about lacking motivation rather than physical inability.

COMMON CONTEXTS:

  • 外出(がいしゅつ)が億劫(おっくう) (going out is a bother)
  • 料理(りょうり)が億劫(おっくう) (cooking is tedious)
  • 掃除(そうじ)が億劫(おっくう) (cleaning is tiresome)

ETYMOLOGY:
Originally a Buddhist term meaning "one hundred million kalpas" (an inconceivably long time), implying something that takes forever to do. Now used for things that feel like too much effort.

RELATED WORDS:

  • 面倒(めんどう) (troublesome, bothersome)
  • 面倒臭(めんどうくさ)い (annoying, tiresome - stronger)
general
Added 2026.1.18 12:56 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06652_okkuu