わわ (wawa)

Meaning & usage

The ～わ～わ pattern lists two or more actions or states that pile up one after another, conveying surprise, being overwhelmed, or complaint about the situation. Attach わ to dictionary-form verbs, nonpast i-adjectives, and nouns or na-adjectives with だ, as in 食べるわ飲むわ or 暑いわ寒いわ, and the list is often closed with で before giving the result. Even for past events, keep the nonpast form and never use たわ or だったわ, since the tone is spoken and emotional.

Example sentences 6

1. 叱しかられるわ褒ほめられるわで疲つかれた。

   I get scolded one moment and praised the next, so I'm worn out.

2. 暑いわ寒いわで体が変だ。

   It's hot one minute and cold the next, so my body feels off.

3. 泣くわ怒るわで手がかかる。

   He cries one minute and gets angry the next, so he's a handful.

4. 食べるわ飲むわでお金がない。

   I keep eating and drinking one thing after another, so I have no money left.

5. 電車は遅れるわ混むわで嫌だ。

   The trains keep getting delayed and crowded, it's miserable.

6. 宿題は多いわ難しいわで困る。

   I have so much homework and it's so hard, I'm stuck.