Entry
くだくだ
kudakuda
Describes speaking or writing in a long-winded, tedious, and wordy manner.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word is used when someone explains, complains, or tells a story at such length that it becomes boring or annoying. It carries a strong negative nuance of being unnecessarily verbose and beating around the bush.
- speaking or writing verbosely
- making long-winded excuses
Sense Map
Long-winded Speaking / Writing
Used when someone explains or writes something at great length with unnecessary details.
くだくだと説明する
Tedious Excuses / Complaining
Used when someone continuously makes excuses or complains at length without getting to the point.
言い訳をくだくだと並べる
Usage Note
How to Use
くだくだ + と + Verb
くだくだ + Verb
The particle 'to' can occasionally be dropped in casual spoken Japanese without changing the meaning.
How to Use
Common Phrases
くだくだと言う
speak tediously / whine at length
くだくだと説明する
explain lengthily and boringly
くだくだと述べる
state wordily
くだくだと書く
write verbosely
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Listening to an explanation | negative | Indicates that the explanation is bogged down by unnecessary details, causing boredom. |
| Hearing someone make excuses | negative | Shows irritation because the person is beating around the bush instead of getting straight to the point. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
くどくど くどくど / nearby | When someone repeats the same thing over and over, such as nagging or lecturing. | Kudakuda focuses on the sheer length and wordiness, while kudokudo emphasizes annoying repetition. | くどくどと小言を言う。 |
ぐだぐだ ぐだぐだ / nearby | When someone complains lazily, or when a situation or conversation loses its structure and becomes a mess. | Kudakuda is specifically about being long-winded, whereas gudaguda implies a lack of energy, structure, or coherence. | グダグダ文句を言う。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using 'kudakuda' to praise a very detailed and thorough report.
Kudakuda always has a negative connotation of being too long and boring. It should never be used as a compliment.
Using it directly as an adjective modifying a noun (e.g. くだくだな話).
It is an adverb and usually takes the particle 'to' before a verb (くだくだと話す).
Examples
Examples
彼は言い訳をくだくだと並べた。
かれ は いいわけ を くだくだ と ならべた。
He listed his excuses tediously.
FigurativeShows that he provided too many excuses, beating around the bush.
担当者は会議でくだくだと説明を続けた。
たんとうしゃ は かいぎ で くだくだ と せつめい を つづけた。
The person in charge continued a long-winded explanation at the meeting.
LiteralIndicates that the explanation was too long and bored the attendees.
くだくだ言うのはもうやめてくれ。
くだくだ いう の は もう やめて くれ。
Please stop going on and on already.
FigurativeOften used when someone has run out of patience listening to complaints or excuses.
彼女は手紙に不満をくだくだと書いた。
かのじょ は てがみ に ふまん を くだくだ と かいた。
She wrote out her complaints wordily in a letter.
LiteralThis word can also be used to describe writing that is excessively long and wordy.
彼は過去の自慢話をくだくだと話した。
かれ は かこ の じまんばなし を くだくだ と はなした。
He talked tediously about his past boasts.
LiteralShows that the storytelling was unnecessarily long and uninteresting to the listener.
Similar Words
グダグダ
gudaguda
Gudaguda strongly implies lazy complaining or a conversation that has lost its structure completely.
Questions
Can I use 'kudakuda' for a comprehensive report?
No, 'kudakuda' means it is excessively long and tedious. For positive, thorough detail, use words like '詳細' (shousai).
What is the difference between 'kudakuda' and 'kudokudo'?
'Kudakuda' points out that a speech or writing is just very long and wordy. 'Kudokudo' points out annoying repetition, like a parent nagging.
Do I have to use 'to' after it?
It is most natural to use 'to' (くだくだと), but in casual conversation you might hear it without 'to' (くだくだ言う).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2076000
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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