かったるい

• Reading: かったるい
• Romaji: kattarui
• Pronunciation: /kat.ta.ɾɯ.i/

Meaning

Tiresome, tedious, or sluggish — a stronger, more emphatic version of だるい expressing deep reluctance or fatigue.

かったるい conveys a bone-deep weariness or irritation at having to do something. It is heavier than だるい, implying not just tiredness but a visceral unwillingness. You might use it about a boring meeting that drags on, a chore you absolutely do not want to do, or the feeling of your body being heavy and uncooperative. It has a grumbling, complaining quality that makes it perfect for expressing frustration.

Examples

1. この会議かったるいな、もう2時間もやってるじゃん。 This meeting is such a drag — it's been going on for two hours already.
2. 朝からかったるくて何もやる気出ない。 I've been sluggish since this morning and can't get motivated to do anything.
3. かったるい仕事ばっかり押し付けられるの勘弁してほしい。 I wish they'd stop dumping all the tedious work on me.

Usage Guide

Context: complaints, friends, work frustration, everyday grumbling

Tone: grumbling, exasperated, sluggish

Do Say

• かったるいけどやるしかないか。 (It's a drag, but I've got no choice.)
• 今日まじかったるい、早く帰りたい。 (Today is so tedious — I want to go home already.)

Don't Say

• 上司に「かったるいです」は態度が悪い (Saying 'kattarui' to your boss shows a bad attitude — keep complaints among friends)

Common Mistakes

• Using かったるい and だるい interchangeably — かったるい is stronger and implies more frustration, while だるい can be a milder tiredness

Origin & History

Derived from 腕だるい (udadarui, arms feeling heavy/tired), which contracted over time into かったるい. The word has been part of colloquial Japanese since the Showa era, carrying a stronger sense of physical and mental lethargy than its cousin だるい.

Cultural Context

Era: Showa era onward

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Some regions prefer だるい or けだるい for similar feelings, but かったるい is widely understood everywhere.