厄介

• Reading: やっかい
• Romaji: yakkai
• Kanji breakdown: 厄 (yaku) — misfortune, calamity; 介 (kai) — mediate, care
• Pronunciation: /jakː.ka.i/

Meaning

Troublesome; burdensome; annoying. Describes something or someone that causes difficulty or inconvenience.

A na-adjective and noun. Common patterns include 厄介な問題 (a troublesome problem), 厄介なことになる (to become a nuisance), and 厄介者 (a troublemaker/nuisance person). Also has an older meaning of 'being under someone's care' (厄介になる, to be in someone's care), though the 'troublesome' sense is far more common today.

Examples

1. この虫歯は厄介なことになりそうだ。 This cavity looks like it's going to be a real pain.
2. 厄介な仕事を押し付けられてしまった。 I got stuck with a troublesome task.
3. 隣の部屋の騒音が厄介で眠れない。 The noise from the next room is so annoying I can't sleep.

Usage Guide

Context: problems, complaints, daily life

Tone: frustrated

Origin & History

Originally written as 厄介 where 厄 (yaku, misfortune/calamity) and 介 (kai, mediate/care) combine. Historically meant 'to be in another's care during misfortune,' which evolved into the modern sense of being a burden.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal