小うるさい

• Reading: こうるさい
• Romaji: kourusai
• Kanji breakdown: 小 (ko) — a bit, slightly (qualifying prefix); うるさい — noisy, fussy, annoying (hiragana)
• Pronunciation: /ko.ɯ.ɾɯ.sa.i/

Meaning

Nagging; fussy; fastidious; fault-finding. Describes someone who is persistently picky about minor details or constantly finding fault.

An i-adjective formed from 小 (ko — slightly, a bit) and うるさい (noisy, fussy, annoying). The prefix 小 softens the force of うるさい, making 小うるさい mean 'a bit too fussy' or 'persistently nitpicky' rather than outrightly obnoxious. Common in workplace or domestic contexts where someone is known for relentless attention to minor imperfections.

Examples

1. 彼は細かいことに小うるさく、書類の誤字一つも見逃さない。 He's fussy about the smallest details and won't let a single typo in a document slide.
2. 小うるさい上司のもとで働くのは疲れるが、おかげで仕事は正確になった。 Working under a nagging boss is exhausting, but thanks to him, my work has become more precise.
3. 料理の盛り付けに小うるさいシェフは、一皿一皿に細心の注意を払う。 The fastidious chef pays meticulous attention to the presentation of each and every plate.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, character description, domestic life, criticism

Tone: mildly critical

Origin & History

Compound of 小 (ko — a bit, qualifying prefix) and うるさい (noisy, fussy, annoying). The prefix 小 reduces the intensity from 'outright annoying' to 'persistently fussy about small things'.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal