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せわしない Japanese meaning | Kotomora

せわしない

せ

わ

し

な

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

restless; fidgety; in a hurry

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person or atmosphere that feels hurried, restless, or unable to settle down. Often used for someone who is always busy or fidgeting.

彼かれはいつもせわしなく動うごいている。
He is always moving around restlessly.

年ねん末まつは何なにかとせわしない。

The end of the year is always so busy and restless.

Written forms

せわしないUsage84%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 忙しない exists but is less common.
忙せわしないUsage16%
Kanji form; less common than the kana spelling.

Kanji

忙busy, occupied, restless

Similar words

忙いそがしい
忙しい means 'busy' in a general sense, while せわしない emphasizes a restless, fidgety quality or a hurried atmosphere.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective 忙しい (せわしい, 'busy, restless') with the suffix ない, which here is not a negative but an intensifying or adjectival ending. The exact historical development is uncertain.