イライラ (いらいら, iraira) Japanese meaning: irritated | Kotomora

イライラ

い

ら

い

ら

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

イライラする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

usually written using kana aloneonomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a state of irritation or impatience, often from small annoyances. Used as a noun, する verb, or adverb with と.

むしゃくしゃ
むしゃくしゃ describes intense, pent-up frustration, while イライラ is a milder, ongoing irritation from small annoyances.
かっか
かっか describes a sudden flare-up of anger or heat, whereas イライラ is a sustained, simmering annoyance.
ムカムカN2
むかむか often adds a physical, nauseated or churning-stomach sense to anger, while イライラ is purely a feeling of impatient irritation.
じりじりN1
いらいら is the common general word for feeling irritated, while じりじり's irritated sense specifically stresses mounting impatience, often from waiting.

Show 11 more

ぴりぴりN1
イライラ describes personal irritation or impatience, while ピリピリ describes a tense, on-edge atmosphere or mood that others can sense.
カリカリ
イライラ is the general word for feeling frustrated or agitated, while カリカリ specifically describes a short-tempered, edgy irritability that often shows in one's manner.
むかつく
イライラする describes a sustained, fretful irritation that builds up, while むかつく is a sharper, more sudden gut-level flash of anger.
やきもきN1
いらいら expresses irritation or annoyance, while やきもき focuses on anxious worry or impatience while waiting.

落おち着つくN3
落ち着く means to calm down and feel settled, the opposite state from being イライラ, tense and irritated.

ハラハラN2
ハラハラ sounds similar to イライラ but describes nervous suspense or worry about an outcome, not irritation.

イライラUsage69%
kana-only spelling
Usually written in kana; katakana is common for this mimetic word.
いらいらUsage25%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
苛いら々いらUsage6%
Kanji form using 苛; rarely used in practice.
苛いら苛いらUsage<1%
Variant kanji form; very rare.

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it likely imitates a prickling or tingling sensation associated with irritation.