事こと々ごとしい

こ

と

ご

と

し

い

Meanings

1

i-adjective

pompous; exaggerated; overblown

Describes speech, behavior, or presentation that is overly elaborate, self-important, or dramatic in a way that feels insincere or affected.

彼かれの事こと々ごとしい挨あい拶さつにはいつも閉へい口こうする。
I'm always put off by his pompous greetings.
事こと々

ごと

しい

演えん

出しゅつ

の

せい

で

、

かえって

内ない

容よう

が

薄うす

く

感かん

じ

られ

た

。

Because of the exaggerated presentation, the content actually felt shallow.

Written forms

事こと々ごとしいUsage11%
Standard kanji spelling using the repetition mark 々.
ことごとしいUsage89%
Kana spelling used for clarity or when the kanji are considered difficult.
事こと事ごとしい
Alternate spelling without the repetition mark; less common but still encountered.

Kanji

事matter, thing, fact

Similar words

大おおげさ
大げさ is more about exaggeration in scale or expression, while 事々しい emphasizes a pompous, self-important tone.
仰ぎょう々ぎょうしい
仰々しい is very close in meaning, often implying an overdone, showy manner; 事々しい can carry a slightly more negative nuance of pretentiousness.

Etymology

Derived from the reduplication of 事 (こと, 'thing, matter') with the adjectival suffix しい, literally suggesting 'full of things' or 'making much of things,' which developed into the sense of being overly elaborate or pompous.