Meaning of “Tenparu(テンパる)”

“Tenparu(テンパる)” means a state of panic or rushing, appearing desperate or pressed for time.
This is a slang that has been established and used for quite a long time.
I didn’t know this until I wrote this article, but this term seems to come from the mahjong term “tenpai(聴牌)”. Originally, it was used in a positive sense, meaning “everything is ready, just before success.” However, only the “just before” part remained, and it eventually took on its current meaning of “feeling pressed” or “being in a desperate situation.”

Example Conversation

A: This is bad, we’re out of time!
B: You don’t have to be tenparu(テンパる) so much. Just calm down!

A: やばいって、もう時間ないよ！
B: そんなにテンパらなくても大丈夫だって。落ち着きなよー。