体ていたらく

て

い

た

ら

く

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

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).

試し験けんに落おちて、この体ていたらくだ。
I failed the exam, and this is the sorry state I'm in.

会かい社しゃの経けい営えいは体ていたらくで、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.

Kanji

体body, substance, object
為do, change, make

Related 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.

Written forms

体ていたらくUsage34%
Standard modern spelling; the kanji 体 is used phonetically (ateji).
ていたらくUsage51%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing.
為体ていたらくUsage14%
Original kanji spelling, now rare and literary.
テイタラク
kana-only spelling

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.