How to say "boring" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 退屈たいくつna-adjective, nounCovers tedium — long stretches where time drags, as in lectures, meetings, or waiting. It also names the state of being bored yourself, fitting both 'I was bored' and 'the lecture was tedious.'
- adverb (with と), suru verbA mimetic word conveying weariness: being fed up, sick and tired of something tedious. Choose it when 'boring' really means 'I'm sick of it' rather than simply 'that was dull.'あの子にはうんざりする。↗The kid is a pain in the neck.
- i-adjectiveThe colloquial spoken form of つまらない, meaning the same thing: dull, uninteresting. Use it in relaxed conversation with friends; it carries a casual, chatty tone.
- i-adjectiveThe everyday word for something dull or uninteresting — a film, a book, a story. When you simply want to say 'boring' about a thing or an experience, this is usually the word you want.
- 平板へいばんna-adjective, nounDescribes flatness and monotony — a flat, expressionless tone of voice or unvarying delivery — rather than something failing to entertain. For a boring movie or conversation it is seldom the word you want.
Use 「つまらない」 (or casual 「つまんない」) for things that are dull and uninteresting; 退屈 for tedium and feeling bored; 「うんざり」 for being fed up; 平板 only for flat, monotonous delivery.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 退屈たいくつtedious
- うんざりtedious
- つまんないboring
- つまらないdull
- ダルdull
- ボーリングboring
- 索然さくぜんboring
- 中刳りなかぐりboring
- 鑽孔さんこうboring
- 穴ぐりあなぐりboring (a hole)
- 試錐しすいboring
- おもんねーboring
- 穿孔せんこうperforation
- つまらぬdull
- つまらんdull
- 味も素っ気もないあじもそっけもないdull
- おもんないuninteresting
- 無味乾燥むみかんそうdull
- 掘進くっしんtunnelling (through)
- しょうもないstupid
- 芸がないげいがないlacking skill
- 平板へいばんmonotonous
- 大味おおあじdull
- きりもみdrilling
- シャバいunsatisfactory
- 辛気臭いしんきくさいirritating
- しょっぱいinferior
- 冴えないさえないboring
See also
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