ありきたり

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(こた)えだ。
That's an ordinary answer.
ありきたりな表現(ひょうげん)()けたい。
I want to avoid commonplace expressions.
ありきたりなプレゼントではなく、(なに)特別(とくべつ)なものを(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 ()(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  • 陳腐(ちんぷ): stale, hackneyed — emphasizes being outdated or worn out