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カチンと来る (カチンとくる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, kuru verb (irregular)
to be annoyed ; to be offended ; to be irritated
usually written using kana alone
Describes a sudden feeling of irritation or offense, often in response to someone's words or actions. The phrase is a set expression using the mimetic カチン (a sharp, clicking sound) and 来る.
That attitude really gets on my nerves.
Written forms カチンと 来く る
Standard katakana spelling for the mimetic part; the verb is often written in kanji.
かちんと 来く る
Hiragana variant; less common but still used.
かちんとくる
Similar words ムカつく More general and stronger feeling of disgust or anger, often physical. カチンと来る is a sharper, more momentary irritation.
イラッとする Similar sudden irritation, but イラッとする is more colloquial and can be used for minor annoyances.
Etymology The mimetic word カチン represents a sharp, hard sound, metaphorically extended to a sudden mental 'snap' of irritation. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a common sound-symbolic formation in Japanese.
