厄介

• Reading: やっかい
• Romaji: yakkai
• Kanji breakdown: 厄 (yaku) — misfortune, calamity | 介 (kai) — assist, mediate
• Pronunciation: /ja.k.kaɪ/

Meaning

Troublesome; burdensome; annoying; difficult. Describes people, situations, or tasks that cause unnecessary difficulty or impose on others.

A na-adjective and noun that covers a wide range of nuisances — from complex legal problems and demanding customers to troublesome personalities. 厄介になる means to impose on or be dependent on someone, while 厄介を掛ける means to cause trouble for another. The word carries a stronger sense of being a burden or imposition than simply 面倒.

Examples

1. この案件は法的に厄介な問題をはらんでいて、弁護士への相談が必要だ。 This case involves troublesome legal issues, so consulting a lawyer is necessary.
2. 厄介な客の対応を任され、スタッフは一日中疲弊していた。 Tasked with handling a difficult customer, the staff was exhausted all day.
3. 彼の性格が厄介で、チーム内の人間関係がぎくしゃくしている。 His troublesome personality has caused tension in the team's interpersonal relationships.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, interpersonal relations, legal matters, daily life

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 厄 (yaku) meaning 'misfortune, calamity' and 介 (kai) meaning 'to assist, to mediate'. The original sense was of a calamitous situation requiring mediation — hence something that brings troublesome dependency or complication.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: General