Meaning
troublesome; bothersome; tiresome; vexing; annoying
Nuance & Usage
煩わしい describes something that is complicated, burdensome, or irritatingly tedious — requiring more effort or involvement than one would like. 人間関係が煩わしい (relationships are bothersome), 手続きが煩わしい (procedures are tedious), 煩わしいことは避けたい (wanting to avoid hassles) are everyday uses. The noun 煩わしさ (wazurawashisa — tediousness, burden) is also common. Unlike 面倒くさい (mendoukusai — annoying, bothersome, more colloquial), 煩わしい has a slightly more literary and formal feel.
Common Mistakes
Learners confuse 煩わしい with 面倒くさい (mendoukusai — annoying, casual), 厄介 (yakkai — troublesome, problematic), and 邪魔 (jama — intrusive, in the way). 煩わしい specifically conveys a sense of being entangled in complexity or unwanted obligations — it's often about social situations or administrative processes. 煩わしさから解放される (to be freed from hassle) is a common expression. The kanji 煩 means to be troubled or weary, giving depth to the word's nuance.
Example Sentences
書類の手続きが煩わしくて、手を焼いた。
しょるいのてつづきがわずらわしくて、てをやいた。
The paperwork procedures were so bothersome that I had a lot of trouble.
人間関係が煩わしくなって、しばらくひとりで過ごすことにした。
にんげんかんけいがわずらわしくなって、しばらくひとりですごすことにした。
Relationships became bothersome, so I decided to spend some time alone.
煩わしいことを極力避けようとする傾向は、現代人に広く見られる。
わずらわしいことをきょくりょくさけようとするけいこうは、げんだいじんにひろくみられる。
The tendency to avoid troublesome things as much as possible is widely observed in modern people.
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