Entry
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.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A word that primarily describes a psychological state of being frustrated, irritated, or in a bad temper due to unresolved issues. It can also describe the physical appearance of something that is shaggy, unkempt, or ragged, most commonly used for messy hair.
- Mental frustration
- Bad mood
- Shaggy hair
Sense Map
Irritated / Frustrated
Describes a state of frustration, annoyance, or being in a bad mood because things are not going well.
むしゃくしゃして物を投げる。
Shaggy / Unkempt
Describes hair or similar things being messy, shaggy, or untidy.
髪がむしゃくしゃに伸びている。
Usage Note
How to Use
むしゃくしゃする
The verb form, used to state that someone is feeling frustrated or irritated.
むしゃくしゃして
The te-form, often used to indicate doing something out of frustration.
むしゃくしゃした + noun
Used to modify a noun, such as 'mood' or 'feeling', to describe an irritated state.
How to Use
Common Phrases
むしゃくしゃする
to feel frustrated
むしゃくしゃした気分
frustrated mood
むしゃくしゃして
out of frustration
髪がむしゃくしゃ
shaggy hair
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| When feeling stressed or frustrated. | negative | Expresses a chaotic, uncomfortable emotional state where one feels unable to resolve a problem. |
| When describing someone's hair. | neutral to negative | Describes hair that is neglected, shaggy, and unkempt. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
苛々 いらいら / similar | When feeling impatient or annoyed due to a delay or annoying person. | むしゃくしゃ implies a heavier, pent-up emotional frustration, whereas いらいら is sharper and often directed at specific delays or annoyances. | 電車が遅れていらいらする。 |
もじゃもじゃ もじゃもじゃ / similar | Specifically for thick, unruly hair or a dense beard. | もじゃもじゃ is only for physical hair/plants being bushy or tangled, and cannot describe a frustrated emotional state. | もじゃもじゃの髭。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe simple anger directed at someone.
It describes a state of internal frustration, bad mood, or feeling vexed rather than direct anger aimed at a specific person.
Using it to describe a messy room or messy clothes.
For physical messiness, it is typically limited to hair or thread-like objects being shaggy or unkempt. A messy room would be 'guchagucha'.
Examples
Examples
最近、仕事がうまくいかなくて、むしゃくしゃする。
さいきん、しごとがうまくいかなくて、むしゃくしゃする。
Lately, work isn't going well and I feel frustrated.
FigurativeThe word captures the pent-up frustration of things not going well.
むしゃくしゃして、つい甘いものをたくさん食べてしまった。
むしゃくしゃして、ついあまいものをたくさんたべてしまった。
I was so frustrated that I ended up eating a lot of sweets.
FigurativeThe te-form is used to show an action taken as a reaction to feeling frustrated.
何だか気分がむしゃくしゃして、眠れない。
なんだかきぶんがむしゃくしゃして、ねむれない。
For some reason, I'm in a bad mood and can't sleep.
FigurativeOften paired with 'kibun' (mood) to describe the overall emotional state.
彼女はむしゃくしゃした気持ちを抑えきれなかった。
かのじょはむしゃくしゃしたきもちをおさえきれなかった。
She couldn't contain her frustrated feelings.
FigurativeUses the past form 'shita' to modify the noun 'kimochi' (feelings).
寝起きのむしゃくしゃした髪をとかす。
ねおきのむしゃくしゃしたかみをとかす。
Combing my shaggy hair after waking up.
VisualDemonstrates the visual use of the word for physical things like unkempt hair.
Similar Words
苛々
iraira
Describes the feeling of being irritated, annoyed, or impatient when things do not go smoothly.
もじゃもじゃ
mojamoja
Describes hair, fur, or a beard that is thick, tangled, and unkempt. Used only for physical unkemptness (like bushy hair), not emotional states.
Questions
Can I use むしゃくしゃ for anger?
It is better suited for a state of pent-up frustration, feeling vexed, or being in a bad mood, rather than an explosive anger directed at someone.
How is it different from いらいら?
While both describe negative feelings, いらいら is often a sharp impatience (like waiting for a late train), whereas むしゃくしゃ is a heavier, messy frustration where you feel out of sorts.
Is this word only used for emotions?
No, it can also describe physical things like unkempt or shaggy hair, though the emotional use is very common.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1632680
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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