陳腐

• Reading: ちんぷ
• Romaji: chinpu
• Kanji breakdown: 陳 (chin) — old, stale, to display; 腐 (pu) — rotten, decayed
• Pronunciation: /tɕiɴ.pɯ/

Meaning

Stale; hackneyed; trite; banal. Describes something overused, clichéd, or lacking in originality and freshness.

A na-adjective often appearing as 陳腐な (chinpu na) or 陳腐だ. Used especially in literary, artistic, and critical discourse to dismiss work that relies on tired formulas or unimaginative expression. It can describe ideas, dialogue, story tropes, or even fashion that has become worn out through overuse.

Examples

1. その映画の結末は陳腐で、観客の多くが失望した。 Critics dismissed the film's ending as hackneyed, though it proved popular with audiences.
2. 陳腐なフレーズを並べるだけのスピーチに誰もが退屈した。 Everyone grew bored with a speech that amounted to nothing but a string of tired phrases.
3. いくら斬新に見えても、テーマが陳腐では観客の心に届かない。 No matter how fresh it looks on the surface, a trite theme will never reach the audience's heart.

Usage Guide

Context: literary criticism, art, screenwriting, academic writing

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 陳 (chin, old, stale) and 腐 (pu, rotten, decayed). Together they evoke something that has been left out so long it has gone stale—an image applied to ideas and expression that feel overripe from overuse.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated