Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Troublesome" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "troublesome", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
面倒な
めんどうな (mendou na)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
煩わしい
わずらわしい (wazurawashii)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "troublesome" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 面倒な and 煩わしい.
In Japanese, 面倒な (めんどうな (mendou na)) is typically associated with "troublesome, bothersome, difficult" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Describes something that requires effort or is annoying to deal with. Often used when someone wants to avoid doing something..
On the other hand, 煩わしい (わずらわしい (wazurawashii)) maps to "troublesome; annoying; bothersome" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Describes something that causes annoyance, trouble, or takes a lot of time and effort, often unnecessarily. It refers to the feeling of being bothered. It is an i-adjective.. A literal translation of "troublesome" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "面倒な"
漢字を覚えるのは面倒だが、とても重要だ。
Memorizing kanji is troublesome, but very important.
Bilingual Context for "煩わしい"
毎日の報告書の作成が煩わしいと感じている。
I find writing daily reports troublesome.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "漢字を覚えるのは面倒だが、とても重要だ。" (Meaning: "Memorizing kanji is troublesome, but very important.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "面倒な" fits here because it means "troublesome, bothersome, difficult" in the context of: "Memorizing kanji is troublesome, but very important.". "煩わしい" represents "troublesome; annoying; bothersome".