迷惑

• Reading: めいわく
• Romaji: meiwaku
• Kanji breakdown: 迷 (mei) — be lost, stray; 惑 (waku) — be puzzled, troubled
• Pronunciation: /me.i.wa.kɯ/

Meaning

Trouble; bother; annoyance; nuisance. Inconvenience caused to others.

Functions as a noun and na-adjective (迷惑な). A culturally significant word in Japan, where avoiding causing 迷惑 to others is a core social value. Common collocations include 迷惑をかける (to cause trouble) and 迷惑メール (spam email).

Examples

1. 夜遅くに電話して迷惑をかけてしまった。 I caused trouble by calling so late at night.
2. 近所に迷惑にならないように気をつけている。 I'm careful not to be a nuisance to the neighbors.
3. この迷惑メールが毎日届いて困っている。 I'm annoyed by all the spam emails I get every day.

Usage Guide

Context: social etiquette, daily life, apologies

Tone: apologetic

Origin & History

Compound of 迷 (mei, to be lost/confused) and 惑 (waku, to be puzzled/troubled). Both characters share the sense of confusion, emphasising the state of being troubled.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal