でたらめ

で

た

ら

め

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

nonsense; rubbish; irresponsible remark

usually written using kana alone

Refers to statements or ideas that are absurd, groundless, or not to be taken seriously. Often used to dismiss something as complete nonsense.

彼かれの言いっていることは全ぜん部ぶでたらめだ。
Everything he's saying is nonsense.

そんなでたらめな話はなしを信しんじる人ひとはいない。

No one believes such a ridiculous story.

2

na-adjective, noun

random; haphazard; unsystematic

usually written using kana alone

Describes actions, choices, or arrangements that lack order, plan, or consistency; done without thinking or based on chance.

でたらめに数すう字じを選えらんでも当あたらないよ。
You won't win if you pick numbers at random.
本ほん棚だなに本ほんがでたらめに並ならんでいる。
The books are arranged haphazardly on the shelf.

Written forms

でたらめUsage63%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 出鱈目 is ateji and rare.
デタラメUsage27%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling used for emphasis or in informal writing.
出で鱈たら目めUsage10%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Ateji kanji form; rarely used in modern writing.

Kanji

出exit, leave, go out
鱈codfish, (kokuji)
目eye, class, look

Similar words

無む茶ちゃ苦く茶ちゃ
Implies chaos or extreme disorder, often with a sense of destruction or excess, while でたらめ focuses on lack of logic or randomness.
適てき当とう
Can mean 'appropriate' or 'suitable' in a positive sense, but also 'half-hearted' or 'random' in a negative sense; でたらめ is always negative or dismissive.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. The kanji 出鱈目 are ateji (phonetic equivalents) and do not reflect the meaning. The word may derive from a mimetic or colloquial expression.