煩う

• Reading: わずらう
• Romaji: wazurau
• Kanji breakdown: 煩 (han/wazurai) — trouble, worry, anguish
• Pronunciation: /wa.zɯ.ɾa.ɯ/

Meaning

To worry about; to be troubled by; to suffer from. Describes a state of persistent mental anguish or physical ailment that weighs on a person.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb ending in う (わずら-う stem). It encompasses both chronic suffering from illness (病に煩う) and persistent psychological torment (悩みに煩う). The nuance is of something prolonged and burdensome, distinguishing it from momentary worry. It appears in literary and formal registers more than in casual speech.

Examples

1. 進路について長く煩ったが、最終的には留学を選んだ。 I agonized over my career path for a long time, but in the end I chose to study abroad.
2. 彼女は長年の持病に煩いながらも、研究を続けてきた。 Despite suffering from a chronic illness for many years, she continued her research.
3. 些細なことに煩うのは時間の無駄だと、ようやく気づいた。 I finally realized that worrying over trivial things is a waste of time.

Usage Guide

Context: literary, illness, psychology, philosophy, classical texts

Tone: introspective

Origin & History

Derived from the kanji 煩 (han/wazurai), which combines fire (火) with a page (頁), evoking the image of the head being heated with worry. The verb form 煩う has classical roots and is found in Buddhist texts describing the anguish of the human condition.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated