1.
to nag; to scold; to grumble complaints
To repeatedly complain about small things or scold someone, often about everyday matters like habits or behavior.
母がまた小言を言っている。
My mother is nagging again.
部長は毎朝小言を言うので苦手だ。
The department head nags every morning, so I find him difficult to deal with.
小言を言いたくないけれど、約束は守ってほしい。
I don't want to nag, but I'd like you to keep your promises.
小言 literally means "small words" and refers to petty complaints, scolding, or nagging. The expression 小言を言う describes the act of delivering such complaints, usually about minor daily matters.
The nuance is of repetitive, somewhat tiresome complaining — the speaker may be justified, but the listener finds it annoying. Often associated with parents, spouses, or bosses.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 小言が多い: to nag a lot
- 小言を聞かされる: to be subjected to nagging
- いつも小言ばかり: always nothing but nagging
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 叱る: to scold — more authoritative, from a position of authority, and typically about a specific incident
- 愚痴を言う: to grumble, to complain — venting dissatisfaction, not necessarily directed at the listener's behavior
- 文句を言う: to complain — a broader term for voicing complaints, can be more forceful than 小言