てんやわんや

• 読み: てんやわんや
• ローマ字: tenyawanya
• 発音: /te.ɲa.wa.ɲa/

意味

Chaotic; in utter pandemonium; hectic to the point of complete disorder. Describes a state where everyone is scrambling in confusion with no coordination.

An onomatopoeic expression used as a na-adjective or noun, most often in the pattern てんやわんやの騒ぎ (a chaotic commotion). It vividly captures the image of people scattering in all directions without coordination. Very colloquial and often used humorously to describe the frantic energy of an overwhelming situation.

例文

1. 引っ越しの朝は子供たちのせいでてんやわんやの大騒ぎだった。
2. イベント当日はトラブルが続いてスタッフ全員がてんやわんやになった。
3. 急な来客にてんやわんやしながらも、なんとかもてなした。

使い方ガイド

場面: everyday life, comedy, informal speech

トーン: lively

起源と歴史

The phrase combines the mimetic elements てんや and わんや, both suggesting scattered, chaotic movement. Its exact etymology is debated, but it has been in use since the Edo period to describe hectic commotion.

文化的背景

時代: Edo–Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal