Entry
苛々
iraira
Describes the feeling of being irritated, annoyed, or impatient when things do not go smoothly.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word captures the internal emotional state of frustration and nervous impatience. It is most often used when you are kept waiting, dealing with incompetence, or facing repeated minor annoyances that drain your patience.
- irritation due to obstacles
- impatience from waiting
Sense Map
Irritation and Frustration
Annoyance felt when plans fall apart or when subjected to repeated disturbances.
思い通りにいかなくてイライラする。
Impatience
Restlessness and irritation from being kept waiting.
待たされてイライラする。
Usage Note
How to Use
イライラする
Used as a verb (suru) meaning 'to get irritated' or 'to feel annoyed'.
イライラしている
The continuous te-iru form showing you are currently in an irritated state.
イライラした + noun
Modifies a noun, as in 'an irritated attitude' (イライラした態度).
イライラさせられる
The causative-passive form meaning you are 'made to feel irritated' by someone or something.
How to Use
Common Phrases
イライラする
to get irritated
イライラが募る
irritation grows
イライラをぶつける
to take one's frustration out on
イライラさせられる
to be made annoyed
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting in lines | negative | Very common for expressing the nervous impatience of being stuck in traffic or waiting for a delayed train. |
| Interpersonal conflicts | negative | Used when dealing with uncooperative or unreasonably slow people who test your patience. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
むしゃくしゃ むしゃくしゃ / similar | When feeling a pent-up, messy, or gloomy mood because things didn't go as planned. | Iraira is a sharper, immediate nervous impatience. Mushakusha is more about feeling unresolved, out of sorts, or wanting to vent one's bad mood. | むしゃくしゃして物を投げる。 |
ぴりぴり ぴりぴり / similar | When the atmosphere is extremely tense, or someone is hypersensitive and on edge. | Piripiri makes others nervous (like walking on eggshells), whereas iraira describes your own personal internal frustration. | ピリピリした雰囲気。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Translating it directly as 'to be angry'.
It means annoyed or frustrated. For being truly mad or angry, use 怒る (okoru).
Treating it as a na-adjective like イライラな人.
It behaves as a verb. You should say イライラしている人 (a person who is irritated).
Examples
Examples
渋滞で車が全然進まず、イライラする。
じゅうたいでくるまがぜんぜんすすまず、イライラする。
The cars aren't moving at all due to the traffic jam, which is irritating.
LiteralShows impatience caused by time delays.
彼の適当な返事にイライラさせられる。
かれのてきとうなへんじにイライラさせられる。
I am made annoyed by his careless replies.
LiteralUses the causative-passive form (made to feel annoyed).
睡眠不足のせいで、些細なことにもイライラしてしまう。
すいみんぶそくのせいで、ささいなことにもイライラしてしまう。
Because of lack of sleep, I end up getting irritated over trivial things.
LiteralDescribes a sensitive mental state.
計画通りに進まず、イライラが募る一方だ。
けいかくどおりにすすまず、イライラがつのるいっぽうだ。
Things aren't going as planned, and my frustration is only growing.
Literalイライラが募る means frustration is steadily building up.
疲れすぎて、つい彼にイライラをぶつけてしまった。
つかれすぎて、ついかれにイライラをぶつけてしまった。
Being too tired, I accidentally took my frustration out on him.
FigurativeUsed as a noun representing the feeling of frustration (to vent one's frustration).
Similar Words
むしゃくしゃ
mushakusha
Describes a state of pent-up frustration and irritation, or physical things like hair being shaggy and unkempt. Both mean feeling frustrated, but mushakusha implies a messy, pent-up mood with a desire to vent.
ピリピリ
piripiri
ピリピリ (piripiri) describes a sharp tingling or stinging sensation, a highly tense or nervous atmosphere, or the light sound of paper ripping. Piripiri is more about an extremely tense atmosphere or extreme sensitivity that makes others nervous.
ムッと
mutto
Describes a sudden surge of being offended or annoyed, or an uncomfortably hot and stuffy atmosphere.
カチン
kachin
'Kachin' (カチン) is a Japanese expression for a sharp, sudden feeling of annoyance or offense.
Questions
What is the difference between iraira and okoru?
Iraira is the internal state of annoyance, impatience, or frustration. Okoru means to get angry, often implying an outward expression of that anger.
Can I use iraira for physical sensations?
Yes, it can sometimes describe a scratchy or prickly feeling (like an irritated throat), though emotional annoyance is far more common.
Is it rude to say I am iraira?
Saying 'イライラしている' (I am irritated) is direct and complains about a situation, so it might make others uncomfortable if said loudly, but it's completely natural in daily complaints among friends.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1587700
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- つらつら (tsuratsura)
- Next entry
- さわさわ (sawasawa)