ありきたり

na-adjective

ordinary; commonplace; run-of-the-mill

1. ordinary; commonplace; run-of-the-mill; unoriginal

Describes something that is so common or conventional that it lacks originality or interest. Often carries a slightly negative nuance, implying that something is boring or predictable because it has been seen or done many times before.

ありきたりな答(こた)えだ。

That's an ordinary answer.

ありきたりな表現(ひょうげん)は避(さ)けたい。

I want to avoid commonplace expressions.

ありきたりなプレゼントではなく、何(なに)か特別(とくべつ)なものを贈(おく)りたい。

I want to give something special, not a run-of-the-mill present.

A な-adjective used to describe things that are overly conventional or predictable. The word originally comes from 在(あ)り来(きた)り, literally 'having come to exist,' meaning something that has existed for a long time and is therefore commonplace.

Common collocations

ありきたりな言葉(ことば): commonplace words
ありきたりな日常(にちじょう): an ordinary daily life
ありきたりな発想(はっそう): an unoriginal idea
ありきたりな展開(てんかい): a predictable development

Similar words

平凡(へいぼん): ordinary, mediocre — neutral tone, simply means average
月並(つきな)み: trite, cliché — stronger negative nuance than ありきたり
陳腐(ちんぷ): stale, hackneyed — emphasizes being outdated or worn out

Related Words

Compare: 平凡(へいぼん) (ordinary, mediocre)

Compare: 月並(つきな)み (trite, cliché)

Compare: 陳腐(ちんぷ) (stale, hackneyed)

Compare: 型(かた)にはまる (to be conventional)

Compare: 凡庸(ぼんよう) (mediocre)

general

Added 2026.3.29 6:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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