てんでんばらばら

てんでんばらばら
na-adjective
each going their own way; scattered every which way
informaldescriptive
1. each going their own way; scattered in every direction
Describes people or things acting or moving individually in different directions, with no coordination. Often emphasizes a lack of unity or organization.
意見(いけん)がてんでんばらばらだ。
Everyone's opinions are all over the place.
家族(かぞく)はてんでんばらばらに出(で)かけた。
The family went out each in a different direction.
震災後(しんさいご)、村(むら)の人々(ひとびと)はてんでんばらばらの場所(ばしょ)に避難(ひなん)した。
After the earthquake, the villagers fled in every direction to different places.

Combines 手(て)んでん (each one, on one's own) with ばらばら (scattered). The てんでん part is an emphatic colloquial form of 各々(おのおの)/各自(かくじ). Strongly emphasizes lack of coordination.

Common patterns

  • As a na-adjective: てんでんばらばらだ / てんでんばらばらな + noun
  • Adverbially: てんでんばらばらに + verb

Similar words

  • ばらばら: scattered; in pieces — neutral and broader; てんでんばらばら adds emphasis on individuality
  • 各自(かくじ): each individually — more formal; lacks the chaotic connotation

Related Words

Compare: 各自(かくじ) (each individually)
general
Added 2026.6.5 11:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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