退屈

• Reading: たいくつ
• Romaji: taikutsu
• Kanji breakdown: 退 (tai) — retreat, withdraw; 屈 (kutsu) — bend, yield
• Pronunciation: /ta.i.kɯ.tsɯ/

Meaning

Boredom; tedium; dullness. The state of finding something uninteresting.

Used as a na-adjective (退屈な) or する verb (退屈する). Describes the feeling of having nothing engaging to do or finding a situation unstimulating. Can describe both the person who is bored and the thing that is boring.

Examples

1. 雨の日は家にいて退屈だ。 On rainy days, staying home is boring.
2. この映画は長くて退屈だった。 This movie was long and boring.
3. 退屈な時間を過ごしたくない。 I don't want to spend my time being bored.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, entertainment, school

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Originally a Buddhist term. 退 (tai, retreat) and 屈 (kutsu, bend/yield) described the weariness of spirit that makes one withdraw — a spiritual exhaustion that became generalized to mean boredom.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal