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August 21, 2022

Using 加減 – Just Right but Sometimes Not

加減(かげん) is a useful but tricky word. By itself, it indicates balance, a state, or moderation. 

But... that's not how it's usually used.

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加減(かげん)

First, let's break down the kanji:

Kanji Parts: 力 (power) + 口 (mouth)

Meanings: add; addition; increase; join; include

Kun: くわ.える、 くわ.わる

On:

Kanji Parts: 氵 (water) + 戈 (weapon) + 一 (one) 口 (mouth)

Meanings: dwindle; decrease; reduce; decline; curtail; get hungry

Kun: へ.る、 へ.らす

On: ゲン


So, if you add a little 加 and subtract a little 減, you get Goldilocks. Just right. 

But as with most useful things, it isn't quite that easy. While it can and does have the meaning of "just right" it can also mean the opposite.



Here are three meanings for いい加減:

1) Negative: irresponsible; careless; half-baked

あの(ひと)はいい加減(かげん)だ。

That person is careless.


2) (Usually) Negative: very; considerably; quite [this indicates that a certain degree has been reached and the speaker thinks it should stop]

(かれ)にはいい加減(かげん)うんざりです。

I've just about had enough of him.


3) Positive: reasonable; moderate; just right

風呂(ふろ)がいい加減(かげん)です。

The bath water is just right (temperature).


How can it mean "just right" and "not right (sloppy)"?!

The original meaning is "just right" but the most common usage is

いい加減(かげん)にしろ or

いい加減(かげん)にして!

This means "Cut it out!" or "That's enough!"

The speaker wants the listener to be like this and therefore the いい加減 part has a positive meaning even though it is used in a negative situation. But because this is in a negative situation, the いい加減 has taken on a mostly negative connotation in modern Japanese.

This is how we get meanings such as:

あの(ひと)はいい加減(かげん)だ。

That person is careless.

Even though, you might look at the kanji and assume this means "This person is just right" it means quite the opposite. This person is sloppy or careless

Quick and dirty rule: Unless the situation is indicating otherwise--for example the bath water is just the right temperature or a bag  is just the right size for its contents--think of いい加減(かげん) as a negative: "that's enough" "sloppy" "cut it out" "get serious" "quit playing around"


Other 加減(かげん) words:


手加減(てかげん)

measuring by feel; knack; skill - this is using your hand to adjust, and therefore it also has the meaning of going easy on someone or adapting to the situation.

手加減(てかげん)は、必要(ひつよう)ですか?

Do I need to go easy on you?
(For example, when you are about to play a game with someone.)


さじ加減(かげん)

spoonful; a dose (of medicine); adjusting cooking with seasoning; a feel for doing something; a knack; making adjustments based on experience and knowledge

この料理(りょうり)はさじ加減(かげん)絶妙(ぜつみょう)で, とても美味(おい)しい。

This dish is very tasty, with just the right amount of seasoning.


バカさ加減(かげん)

extent of (one's) foolishness

自分(じぶん)のバカさ加減(かげん)がとても()ずかしい。

I am very ashamed of my stupidity.


And lastly, a less idiomatic but very common example is.

湯加減(ゆかげん)

water temperature, especially the bath

ちょうどよい湯加減(ゆかげん)です。

The bath water is just right.

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