癪しゃくの種たね

しゃ

く

の

た

ね

Meanings

cause of annoyance; irritant; pet peeve

Refers to something that repeatedly or particularly gets on one's nerves; often used in the phrase 癪の種になる (to become a source of irritation).

彼かれの自じ慢まん話ばなしが癪しゃくの種たねだ。
His boasting is a source of irritation.
毎まい朝あさの満まん員いん電でん車しゃが癪しゃくの種たねになっている。
The crowded train every morning has become a pet peeve.

Kanji

癪spasms, (kokuji)
種species, kind, class

Related words

癪しゃくに障さわる
An expression meaning 'to get on one's nerves' or 'to irritate'; 癪の種 is the cause of that irritation.
苛立いらだち
A noun meaning 'irritation' or 'frustration' as a feeling; 癪の種 is the external cause that provokes it.

Built from

癪しゃく+種たね

Written forms

癪しゃくの種たね
Standard kanji spelling; 癪 is a common kanji for irritation or anger.
しゃくの種たね
Kana spelling is also used, especially in casual writing or when the kanji 癪 is considered difficult.

Etymology

Composed of 癪 (しゃく, 'irritation' or 'anger') and 種 (たね, 'seed' or 'source'), literally 'seed of irritation'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is conventionally associated with the idea of something that grows into annoyance.