Immature
Idioms, Stage 2chunk 12 of 21What people are like
Faults you scold someone for: selfish, too old for this, dithering, quitting after three days.
- jibun katteselfish, only thinks of oneselfliterally “self, one's own way”
- ii toshi shiteat your age (you should know better)literally “being a good age”
- yuujuu fudanindecisive, can't make up one's mindliterally “gentle and soft, not deciding”
- mikka bouzusomeone who gives up after a few daysliterally “a three-day monk”
Mix-ups ii toshi shite and ii kagen ni shite (mood) are both scolding lines that start with ii. jibun katte (selfish) can be mixed up with katte ni shite (suit yourself).
jibun katte
polite jibun katte desu
“self, one's own way”
selfish, only thinks of oneself
The standard complaint about someone who does what suits them and ignores everyone else: jibun katte da yo, jibun katte na hito. When apologising for your own request, people drop jibun: katte na onegai desu ga... Not the same as katte ni (without asking).
Single words: wagamama (selfish, spoilt), jikochuu (self-centred, slang).
ano hito, honto jibun katte da yo ne.
He's so selfish, isn't he?
あの人、ほんと自分勝手だよね。
ano hito wa hontou ni jibun katte desu yo ne.
He really is selfish, isn't he?
あの人は本当に自分勝手ですよね。
Written 自分勝手 · じぶんかってHeard 102× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list jibun (Stage 1), katte ni (Stage 3)
ii toshi shite
“being a good age”
at your age (you should know better)
In English: act your age
A jab at a grown-up acting childish or silly: ii toshi shite nani yatteru no? Also said about yourself with embarrassment (ii toshi shite naichatta, I cried, at my age); the o of ii toshi o shite is usually dropped.
Also written いい歳して; rougher: ii toshi koite.
ii toshi shite, nani yatteru no?
What are you doing, at your age?
いい年して、何やってるの？
Written いい年して · いいとししてHeard 18× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list ii (Stage 1), suru (Stage 1), yaru (Stage 1)
yuujuu fudan
polite yuujuu fudan desu
“gentle and soft, not deciding”
indecisive, can't make up one's mind
About someone who takes forever to choose, at a menu, between two partners or at work, very often yourself: yuujuu fudan de kimerarenai. One of the four-character phrases people really say aloud.
Plain way: nakanaka kimerarenai (I just can't decide).
watashi, yuujuu fudan da kara kimerarenai.
I'm so indecisive, I can't choose.
私、優柔不断だから決められない。
watashi, yuujuu fudan na node kimerarenai n desu.
I'm indecisive, so I can't make up my mind.
私、優柔不断なので決められないんです。
Written 優柔不断 · ゆうじゅうふだんHeard 13× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list kimeru (Stage 3), -eru / -rareru (Stage 2), nakanaka (Stage 4)
mikka bouzu
polite mikka bouzu desu
“a three-day monk”
someone who gives up after a few days
Self-mockery about diets, diaries, the gym and New Year resolutions that didn't last: mata mikka bouzu da. Mostly about yourself; mikka bouzu de owaru = it didn't stick.
Plain way: sugu yamechau (I always quit right away).
daietto, mata mikka bouzu datta.
My diet lasted three days again.
ダイエット、また三日坊主だった。
daietto wa mata mikka bouzu deshita.
My diet only lasted a few days again.
ダイエットはまた三日坊主でした。
Written 三日坊主 · みっかぼうずHeard 1× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list mata (Stage 3), yameru (Stage 4), sugu (Stage 2)