If something irks you, it makes you feel annoyed — usually in a small, repeated way, not a huge burst of anger.

If something如果有東西 irks you讓你irk, it makes you feel annoyed它會讓你覺得煩——usually in a small, repeated way通常是小小的、一直重複的方式, not a huge burst of anger不是一次大爆發的怒氣。

A tap that keeps dripping can irk you. A tiny habit someone will not stop can irk you.

A tap that keeps dripping一直滴水的水龍頭 can irk you可以irk你。A tiny habit someone will not stop別人不肯改掉的小習慣 can irk you也可以irk你。

The feeling is closer to “this keeps rubbing me the wrong way” than to rage.

The feeling這種感覺 is closer to比較接近 "this keeps rubbing me the wrong way"「這件事一直讓我不爽」 than to rage而不是憤怒。

The word is a bit literary; many people would just say annoy or bother.

The word這個字 is a bit literary有點文言; many people很多人 would just say就只會說 annoy or bother annoy或bother。

You will also meet irksome, the adjective, meaning “annoying.” Though actually, this word is an old cousin of work: it came from Old Norse yrkja, “to work,” and long ago it was about growing tired from labour. The meaning slid from “wear out” to “get on your nerves.”

你也會遇到irksome, the adjective, meaning "annoying."irksome這個形容詞，意思是「令人厭煩的」。Though actually不過其實, this word這個字 is an old cousin of work是work的老親戚: it came from Old Norse yrkja它來自古諾斯語yrkja, "to work,"意思是「工作」 and long ago很久以前 it was about growing tired from labour指的是因為勞動而疲累。The meaning意思 slid from "wear out" to "get on your nerves."慢慢從「累垮」滑到「讓人不爽」。