nagging
しつこい
解説 Definition
nagging は nag（しつこく小言を言う、しつこく悩ませる）の現在分詞からできた形です。形容詞として、問題や痛み、心配などがしつこく続いて気になる様子を表します。
Continuing for a long time and repeatedly causing discomfort, worry, or irritation. It commonly describes a pain, doubt, concern, or problem that remains difficult to ignore even when it is not overwhelming.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形 nag に -ing を付けた形で、短母音の後の子音 g を重ねて nagging と綴る。ここでは「小言を言っている」でなく、nagging pain・doubt・problem のように、痛みや疑念や問題が消えず、心をじわじわ悩ませ続ける形容詞として覚える。発音でも g 音は一度だけ。
Start with the verb nag, meaning to trouble someone repeatedly. To add -ing, double the final g after the short vowel: nag becomes nagging, although the doubled letters do not produce two separate g sounds. Here, remember nagging as an adjective rather than simply an ongoing action. A nagging pain keeps bothering the body; a nagging doubt stays in the mind; and a nagging problem refuses to disappear. The core image is something repeatedly demanding attention. Unlike severe, which emphasizes intensity, nagging emphasizes persistence and the difficulty of ignoring the discomfort or concern.
例文
He had a nagging pain in his shoulder.
彼は肩にしつこい痛みを感じていました。
A nagging doubt stayed in her mind.
しつこい疑念が彼女の頭から離れませんでした。
The manager wanted to fix the nagging problem before launch.
マネージャーは発売前にそのしつこく残る問題を解決したいと考えていました。
nagging の類義語・関連語
派生語
紛らわしい語
nagging の語源・成り立ち Etymology
スカンジナビア語の「nagga（かじる、噛む）」が起源。絶えず噛みつくように繰り返す不快感から「しつこい、うるさい」の意味に発展した。関連語：nag（小言を言う）。心をじわじわ「かじる」ような痛みや不満を表す比喩的表現。
Nagging is the -ing form of nag, with the final consonant doubled according to the usual spelling pattern for a short stressed vowel followed by one consonant. Nag is probably related to Scandinavian forms such as Swedish nagga, meaning “to gnaw” or “nibble.” The image of something repeatedly gnawing helps explain the later senses of persistent scolding and continuing discomfort. As an adjective, nagging describes a pain, doubt, or problem that keeps troubling someone.
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