How to say "fuss" in Japanese

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  • こだわるJLPT N1approx.Common
    godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'fuss (over)' as being obsessive or overly concerned with something, worrying too much about details or quality. The nuance is excessive attachment to the thing itself rather than care for people.
    殿方とのがたが細こまかいことにこだわるものではありません。↗
    It doesn't become a gentleman to fuss over trifles.
  • 気を使うきをつかう
    expression, godan verbCovers 'fuss (over)' in the sense of attentively caring for someone, being careful about their comfort, feelings, or needs, as when a host fusses over guests.
    私のことには少すこしも気きを使つかってくれません。↗
    He doesn't care a bit about me.
  • noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA less common noun for 'fuss' meaning a commotion or to-do arising from quarreling and wrangling. It names the noisy back-and-forth itself, not the act of fussing over something.

Use 「こだわる」 for fussing over something out of obsessive concern, 「気を使う」 for fussing over people attentively and considerately, and 「すったもんだ」 for a fuss as a noun: a commotion of quarreling and wrangling.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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