1.
shrinking back, being overwhelmed, being pushed back
The state of being pushed back or overwhelmed by something powerful or intense. Originally meant retreating from a superior force.
彼の勢いに辟易した。
I was overwhelmed by his intensity.
相手の迫力に辟易して、後ずさりした。
Overwhelmed by the opponent's force, I stepped back.
彼の強引さには誰もが辟易させられた。
Everyone was put off by his pushiness.
2.
being fed up, being sick of, weariness
The state of being tired of or disgusted with something due to excess or persistence. Used when something becomes unbearable.
連日の暑さに辟易している。
I'm fed up with the heat day after day.
彼の自慢話には辟易する。
I'm sick of his bragging.
毎日同じことの繰り返しに辟易していた。
I was weary of the same thing repeating every day.
USAGE: Used with する to form the verb 辟易する. Can also be used as a taru-adjective: 辟易たる思い.
NUANCE: 辟易 originally meant being pushed back by a powerful force (sense 1), but is now more commonly used to mean being fed up or disgusted (sense 2). Both senses convey being overwhelmed by something.
ETYMOLOGY: From Chinese, originally describing retreating from battle.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 辟易する (to be overwhelmed/fed up)
- ～に辟易する (to be fed up with ~)
- 辟易させる (to put someone off)
RELATED WORDS:
- うんざりする (to be fed up - more casual)
- 閉口する (to be at a loss, fed up)
- 嫌気が差す (to be sick of)