拗らせる

• Reading: こじらせる
• Romaji: kojiraseru
• Kanji breakdown: 拗 (ō/koji/ko) — twist, wrench, be contrary
• Pronunciation: /ko.d͡ʑi.ɾa.se.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To aggravate; to complicate; to make worse. Used when a situation, illness, or relationship becomes more tangled or difficult.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb meaning to twist something into a worse state. Used for worsening illnesses (風邪を拗らせる), complicating relationships, or making situations more difficult. In modern slang, 拗らせている describes someone with an awkward or twisted personality.

Examples

1. 風邪を拗らせて肺炎になってしまった。 My cold got worse and turned into pneumonia.
2. 問題を拗らせる前に早めに解決しよう。 Let's resolve this before it gets any more complicated.
3. 彼は人間関係を拗らせる天才だ。 He has a real talent for making relationships complicated.

Usage Guide

Context: health, relationships, daily life

Tone: cautionary

Origin & History

From 拗 (to twist, to be contrary), which combines 手 (hand) and 幼 (young/immature). The causative form 拗らせる means to cause something to become twisted or worsened.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal