Table of Contents
Definition
つまらないものですが (tsumaranai mono desu ga) literally means “(this is) not interesting/exciting, but…” and is used when one gives a present to someone in a very humble way. Equivalent expressions in English would be “this is not much, but…”, “This is nothing special”, or “It’s just a little something”.
Usage
This phrase is often used by middle-aged people when they visit someone’s house and give them a gift. Since it’s not commonly used among young people, some people regard this phrase as a little old-fashioned.
Example
これ、つまらないものですが…
This is not much, but … (I hope you’ll like it)
わざわざすみません、ありがとうございます！
Oh you didn’t have to, thank you very much!
Related Words
Synonym
大（たい）したものではありませんが: “This is not much”
ほんの気持（きも）ちだけですが: “This is just a small token of my appreciation.”
Antonym
これめっちゃいいよ: “This is so awesome”
Related Posts
ふつつか者 (futsutsuka mono): Lovely Word to Humble Yourself
https://takashionary.com/futsutsuka-mono/
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