つまらない

also: つまらねー

つ

ま

ら

な

い

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

つまらない · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	つまらない	つまらなくない
Polite	つまらないです	つまらなくないですalso つまらなくありません
Past polite	つまらなかったです	つまらなくなかったですalso つまらなくありませんでした
Past	つまらなかった	つまらなくなかった
Te-form	つまらなくて	つまらなくなくて
Adverbial	つまらなく
Conditional	つまらなければ	つまらなくなければ
Tara conditional	つまらなかったら	つまらなくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

boring; dull; uninteresting

usually written using kana alone

Describes something that fails to engage or entertain; the most common everyday use.

この映えい画がはつまらなかった。
This movie was boring.
つまらない話はなしを聞きかされた。
I was made to listen to a dull story.

i-adjective

trivial; insignificant; worthless

usually written using kana alone

Used for things of little value or importance; often in set phrases like つまらないものですが.

つまらないものですが、どうぞ。
It's just a little something, but please accept it.
そんなつまらないことで怒おこらないで。
Don't get angry over such a trivial thing.

i-adjective

foolish; silly; stupid

usually written using kana alone

Describes an action, idea, or person as lacking sense; often used in reproach.

つまらないことを言いうな。
Don't say stupid things.
つまらない意い地じを張はるのはやめろ。
Stop being stubborn over something so silly.

i-adjective

pointless; useless; disappointing

usually written using kana alone

Expresses that something is futile or falls short of expectations; often carries a tone of regret.

努ど力りょくがつまらなく感かんじられることもある。
Sometimes effort can feel pointless.
つまらない結けっ果かに終おわった。
It ended in a disappointing result.

See all 116 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

つまらないものですがused humbly when giving a gift, downplaying its value
つまらないものですが、どうぞ。
It's nothing much, but please accept it.
〈事こと〉でつまらない喧けん嘩かをするto have a pointless quarrel over something trivial
彼かれらはつまらないことで喧けん嘩かした。
They had a pointless quarrel over something trivial.
つまらないミスをするto make a careless or silly mistake
彼かれはつまらないミスをして試し合あいに負まけた。
He made a silly mistake and lost the match.
つまらない冗じょう談だんを言いうto make a silly or lame joke
彼かれはいつもつまらない冗じょう談だんを言いう。
He's always making silly jokes.

Kanji

詰packed, close, pressed

Related words· 12

退たい屈くつN3sense 1
退屈 is a noun/adjectival noun for the state of 'boredom', while つまらない is the adjective describing something as boring.
くだらないN3sense 3
くだらない is a stronger, more dismissive way to call something 'worthless' or 'stupid', while つまらない is milder and covers plain boredom too.
無む意い味みN2sense 4
無意味 means 'meaningless' or 'pointless' in a more logical/abstract sense, whereas つまらない can also express mere disappointment or dullness.
単たん調ちょうN1sense 1
単調 describes something 'monotonous' due to repetition, a narrower cause of boredom than the general つまらない.

Show 8 more

味あじ気けない
つまらない emphasizes boredom or a lack of interest, while 味気ない focuses on an empty, unsatisfying quality rather than simple boredom.
寒さむいN5
つまらない is the general word for something boring, while 寒い (slang) specifically describes a joke or remark that falls flat and feels awkward.
冴さえないN1
つまらない is the everyday, general word for 'boring' or 'trivial', while 冴えない specifically conveys a lack of sparkle, sharpness, or appeal in mood, results, or looks.
しょっぱいN3
しょっぱい in its colloquial sumo-derived sense means unimpressive or subpar, while つまらない is the plain, everyday word for boring or dull.
些さ細さいN2
些細 describes something too small or unimportant to matter, while つまらない suggests something boring or not worth valuing, often applied to things, stories, or people.
ダル
つまらない is the standard, everyday word for 'boring', while ダル is a casual slang loanword used mostly by younger speakers to express the same idea.
どうでもいい
つまらない describes something boring or petty, whereas どうでもいい specifically means the thing doesn't matter or isn't worth caring about.
しょうもない
つまらない emphasizes plain boredom or dullness, whereas しょうもない adds a stronger sense of stupidity or worthlessness.

Opposites· 9

面おも白しろいN5sense 1
面白い means 'interesting' or 'fun', the direct opposite of つまらない's 'boring' sense.
重じゅう要ようN3sense 2
重要 means 'important', contrasting with つまらない's sense of something being trivial or insignificant.
楽たのしいN5
つまらない means boring or dull, the direct opposite of 楽しい's sense of being enjoyable or fun.

Show 6 more

スリリング
つまらない means boring or dull, the opposite of the exciting, suspenseful feeling described by スリリング.
エキサイティング
つまらない means boring or dull, the direct opposite of エキサイティング which describes something thrilling.
魅み力りょく的てきN3
つまらない describes something boring or uninteresting, the opposite of 魅力的's sense of drawing interest and admiration.
興きょう味み深ぶかいN2
つまらない means 'boring' or 'uninteresting', the direct opposite of 興味深い, which means 'fascinating' or 'of great interest'.
おもろい
つまらない means 'boring/dull', the opposite of おもろい's sense of being interesting or amusing.
貴とうといN1
つまらない describes something trivial or worthless, contrasting with 貴い's sense of great, often intangible, value.

Politeness

つまんない
つまんない is a casual, contracted pronunciation used in speech, while つまらない is the standard form appropriate in any register.

Don't confuse with

詰つまるN2
詰まる means 'to become blocked or stuffed' and shares the same kanji root as つまらない, but the two words are unrelated in meaning.

Written forms

詰つまらない
詰つまらない
Kanji spelling is rare and may be confused with the literal 'not packed' reading.

Etymology

The negative form of 詰まる, whose older senses included reaching a satisfactory conclusion or being worthwhile. The expression developed from “coming to nothing” or “being of no use” to “worthless” and “boring.”