拘り – What does Kodawari mean?

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こだわ is a word to express a fixation on something. It is used to show an obsession with details, strong preference or pickiness, and so on. In English, these words imply something negative but in Japanese, it is the opposite. Usually, 拘り applies something positive.

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Obsession

こだわ can be used for something specific or just to show someone that is generally obsessed about everything.

日本語にほんご上達じょうたつすることにこだわっている
I am obsessed about improving my Japanese

Or if you want to show you are a perfectionist you could say something like the following.

わたし拘りつよひと
I am a perfectionist
I am an obsessive person

Preference or Pickiness

こだわり means something that you have a strong preference for, or are picky about.

太郎たろうはファッションにつよ拘りっている
Taro is picky about fashion

Again, there is not a direct translation so the above could be said in a number of different ways. In the example sentence we know that Taro is picky about fashion. This could mean that he has a strong individual preference for fashion, a strong fixation on a specific kind of fashion, or his own unique fashion. and so on. 

Focus on something

Let’s say instead of all this talk about what words mean, you prefer to improve your grammar skills.

文法ぶんぽうこだわりたい
I want to focus on grammar

This sentence could imply spending more time studying grammar, using some special technique to learn better or whatever.

Complaints or Concerns

こだわ can also be used to show concern for something.

わたし掃除そうじ拘りがない
I don’t care about cleaning

 

Or you want to to show how you feel about someone.

そのひと拘りがない
I’m not obsessed about that person

This would means something like I have no complaints or concerns about that person.

Specialty or Niche

This word can be used to show your talents or if you are a business something you are special at.

これはこのおみせ拘り商品しょうひん
This is the store’s specialty

Now you know the meaning of 拘り. If you want to learn more Japanese I reviewed a dictionary of grammar series which I personally recommend and use myself.

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