あれこれ

A very common conversational word combining あれ (that) and これ (this) to mean 'various things' or 'one thing after another.' Often implies a scattering of attention across multiple topics or tasks rather than focused effort.

Common collocations

• あれこれ考(かんが)える — to think about various things
• あれこれ悩(なや)む — to worry about this and that
• あれこれ口(くち)を出(だ)す — to meddle in various matters
• あれこれ試(ため)す — to try various things
• あれこれ言(い)う — to say this and that; to make various comments

Usage

Can function as an adverb modifying a verb (あれこれ考(かんが)える) or as a noun-like expression (あれこれの用事(ようじ) — various errands). As an adverb, it often carries a nuance of doing something in an unfocused or scattered way.

Similar words

• いろいろ — various (more neutral, general-purpose)
• 何(なに)かと — one way or another (often implies trouble or burden)
• とやかく — this and that (usually negative: とやかく言(い)う — to nitpick)