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体たらく (ていたらく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
sorry state ; mess ; deplorable situation
Used to describe a situation that has become disgraceful, chaotic, or pitiful, often with a tone of criticism or disappointment. Frequently appears in phrases like この体たらく (this mess) or 体たらくだ (it's a disgrace).
で
、
倒とう
産さん
寸すん
前ぜん
だ
。
The company's management is in such a mess that it's on the verge of bankruptcy.
Written forms 体てい たらく Usage 34%
Standard modern spelling; the kanji 体 is used phonetically (ateji).
ていたらく Usage 51%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing.
為体ていたらく Usage 14%
Original kanji spelling, now rare and literary.
テイタラク
Similar words 有あり 様さま 有様 is a neutral or slightly negative word for 'state of affairs' or 'situation', while 体たらく carries a stronger sense of disgrace or disappointment.
惨さん 状じょう 惨状 means 'disastrous scene' or 'tragic state', focusing on the visual or objective horror, whereas 体たらく emphasizes the speaker's critical or lamenting attitude toward the situation.
Etymology Originally from the classical Japanese phrase 為体 (ていたらく), meaning 'state' or 'condition'. Over time it took on a strongly negative connotation. The modern spelling 体たらく uses 体 as ateji for the sound てい, and the word is now almost exclusively used to criticize a disgraceful situation.
