いい加減

• 読み: いいかげん
• ローマ字: iikagen
• 漢字の分解: 加 (ka) — add, increase; 減 (gen) — decrease, reduce
• 発音: /iː.ka.ɡe.ɴ/

意味

Irresponsible; sloppy; half-hearted. Also means 'enough already' or 'moderate.'

A versatile na-adjective and adverb with contrasting uses: (1) as a criticism meaning sloppy, irresponsible, or unreliable (いい加減な仕事 = sloppy work), (2) as an adverb meaning 'enough already' expressing exasperation (いい加減にしなさい = cut it out), and (3) less commonly, the literal meaning of 'good moderation' (いい加減の湯 = comfortably warm water). Context is crucial for interpretation.

例文

1. いい加減な返事ばかりして信用できない。
2. いい加減にしてくれ、もう我慢の限界だ。
3. 彼のいい加減な態度には本当に困っている。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily life, criticism, arguments, parenting

トーン: critical

起源と歴史

From いい (ii, good) + 加減 (kagen, degree/extent). Ironically, the compound shifted from the positive literal meaning of 'good moderation' to the negative sense of being too casual or not caring enough.

文化的背景

時代: Edo period

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal