生返事(なまへんじ)

なまへんじ
noun
half-hearted reply; vague response
communication
1. half-hearted reply; vague response
A response given without really paying attention or thinking about what was said. Often involves an absent-minded 'uh-huh' or 'yeah' while distracted.
生返事(なまへんじ)をしないで。
Don't give me a half-hearted reply.
彼(かれ)はスマホを見(み)ながら生返事(なまへんじ)ばかりだった。
He just kept giving vague responses while looking at his phone.
母(はは)に頼(たの)まれたのに生返事(なまへんじ)をしていたら、後(あと)で怒(おこ)られた。
My mother asked me to do something, but I gave a vague reply, and later she got angry.

Usage

Usually used with する to form the expression 生返事(なまへんじ)をする (to give a half-hearted reply). Carries a negative connotation — it implies the person is not listening properly.

Common collocations

  • 生返事(なまへんじ)をする (to give a vague reply)
  • 生返事(なまへんじ)ばかり (nothing but half-hearted replies)
  • 生返事(なまへんじ)で済(す)ませる (to get by with a vague reply)

Forms

生(なま) (raw, half-done) + 返事(へんじ) (reply). The 生(なま) prefix suggests something incomplete or not fully committed, as in 生半可(なまはんか) (half-baked).

Related Words

Related: 返事(へんじ) (reply)
general
Added 2026.3.17 9:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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