Translation guide
To criticize small, unimportant details in a way that is annoying or overly fussy.
Express that someone is finding fault with minor, unimportant points.
A common idiomatic phrase meaning 'to pick at the corners of a tiered food box,' i.e., to nitpick or split hairs over trivial details.
彼はいつも重箱の隅をつつくようなことばかり言う。
He always says things that are just nitpicking.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly corresponds to 'nitpick.' Using a literal translation like 小さなことをつつく would not be understood. Use the idiomatic phrases provided instead.
Literally 'to worry about small things.' A natural way to describe someone who nitpicks or fusses over details.
そんな細かいことを気にしなくてもいいのに。
You don't have to nitpick like that.
Means 'to find fault with someone's words or minor mistakes,' often used for nitpicking in conversation.
彼女は私の言い間違いの揚げ足ばかり取る。
She's always nitpicking my slip-ups.
Literally 'fault-finding.' Can be used for nitpicking, though it often implies looking for flaws more generally.
彼はいつも人の粗探しばかりしている。
He's always nitpicking other people's work.
A more formal phrase meaning 'to get hung up on minor details.' Suitable for written or formal contexts.
枝葉末節にこだわらず、本質を見よう。
Let's not nitpick; let's focus on the essentials.