Translation guide
The quality of using more words than needed; wordiness. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through nouns describing the trait, adjectives for describing speech or writing, and verbs for the act of being verbose.
Describing a person, speech, or writing as using too many words
A common noun/adjective meaning 'verbose' or 'redundant'. Used for speech, writing, or explanations that are unnecessarily long.
Describing the action of speaking or writing in a verbose manner
A verb phrase meaning 'to talk on and on' or 'to speak verbosely'. The adverb くどくど emphasizes repetitiveness and long-windedness.
彼はくどくどと自分の意見を話した。
He verbosely stated his opinion.
冗長 is more formal and can be used for both speech and writing. くどい is more colloquial and often carries a negative emotional tone, implying the speaker is annoyed by the repetitiveness.
The English word 'verbosity' is a noun, but directly translating it as 冗長性 or 冗言 is uncommon in natural Japanese. It's more natural to use adjectives like 冗長な or くどい, or verb phrases like くどくど話す.
彼の説明は冗長だ。
His explanation is verbose.
冗長な文章を避けるべきだ。
You should avoid verbose writing.
An adjective meaning 'verbose', 'repetitive', or 'long-winded'. Often used for speech that goes on and on, sometimes with a negative nuance of being tiresome.
彼の話はいつもくどい。
His stories are always long-winded.
くどい説明は聞きたくない。
I don't want to hear a verbose explanation.
A noun/adjective meaning 'diffuse' or 'verbose', often used in literary or formal contexts to describe writing that is long-winded and lacking conciseness.
この小説は冗漫だ。
This novel is verbose.
An adjective meaning 'long-winded' or 'tediously long'. Stronger colloquial nuance, often implying annoyance.
長ったらしいスピーチだった。
It was a long-winded speech.
A noun meaning 'verbosity' or 'redundant words'. More technical and less common in everyday speech.
冗言を省いて要点を述べなさい。
Omit verbosity and state the main point.
A phrase meaning 'to speak verbosely'. More formal than くどくど話す.
彼はいつも冗長に話す。
He always speaks verbosely.
A phrase meaning 'to write at length' or 'to write verbosely'. Often used for writing that is unnecessarily long.
彼は報告書を長々と書いた。
He wrote the report verbosely.