面倒

• Reading: めんどう
• Romaji: mendou
• Kanji breakdown: 面 (men) — face, surface; 倒 (tou) — fall, topple
• Pronunciation: /meɴ.doː/

Meaning

Trouble; bother. Something that is troublesome or a hassle.

Functions as both a noun and a na-adjective (面倒な). Very common in daily conversation to express annoyance or reluctance. Key collocations include 面倒を見る (to look after/take care of) and 面倒くさい (annoying/bothersome, casual).

Examples

1. この書類を全部書くのは本当に面倒だ。 Filling out all these forms is such a hassle.
2. 子供の面倒を見てくれる人を探している。 I'm looking for someone who can look after the kids.
3. 面倒なことは後回しにしがちだ。 I tend to put off things that are a pain to deal with.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, work, conversation

Tone: slightly negative

Origin & History

Originally written 面道, combining 面 (men, face/surface) and 倒 (tou, fall/topple). The sense evolved from 'falling on one's face' to expressing difficulty and bother.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo Period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal