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ややこしくする (to make something complicated)

Grammar & Usage

fixed expression (verb phrase)

neutral

How it works

This expression is formed by taking the adverbial form of the i-adjective 厄介な (yakkai na, often written as ややこしい, yayakoshii, meaning 'troublesome, complicated, confusing') which is ややこしく (yayakoshiku), and combining it with the verb する (suru), meaning 'to do' or 'to make'. It functions as a transitive verb phrase, indicating the action of causing something to become complicated or confusing.

Sample sentences

彼が余計なことを言って、話をややこしくした。

He said unnecessary things and complicated the discussion.

これは状況をややこしくするだけだから、やめてください。

This will only complicate the situation, so please stop.

そんなに細かいルールは、かえってシステムをややこしくするだけだ。

Such detailed rules would, on the contrary, only make the system more complicated.

Quick facts

etymology:Derived from the i-adjective ややこしい (yayakoshii, complicated/confusing) + する (suru, to do/make).

conjugation:As it ends with する (suru), it conjugates like a regular irregular verb: ややこしくしない (negative), ややこしくした (past), ややこしくしている (progressive), etc.

Often used with

話をややこしくする (to make a story/discussion complicated)

問題をややこしくする (to complicate a problem)

状況をややこしくする (to make a situation complicated)

物事をややこしくする (to complicate things)

関係をややこしくする (to complicate a relationship)

Mnemonic

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Example

彼が余計なことを言って、話をややこしくした。

He said unnecessary things and complicated the discussion.

これは状況をややこしくするだけだから、やめてください。

This will only complicate the situation, so please stop.