How to Say "Bully" in Japanese

いじめっ子

ijimekko

The English phrase "bully" is translated into Japanese as いじめっ子 (ijimekko).

いじめっ子 is a noun used to describe a person who is intentionally cruel to others.

Meaning: a person who is intentionally cruel to others (noun)

Related words

ijimekko

While いじめっ子 refers to the bully, the act of bullying is called いじめ (ijime). This term is widely recognized globally and is often used in English academic papers to describe specific Japanese social dynamics.
In Japanese schools, there is a concept called いじめ防止基本法 (Ijime Boshi Kihon Ho), which is a national Basic Act to prevent bullying. This makes the legal prevention of いじめ a formal matter of state policy.
Unlike the English word 'bully', which often suggests a loud or physically imposing person, a Japanese いじめっ子 can be the most quiet, polite and high-achieving student in the class.

トムはいじめっ子だよ。
Tom is a bully.
This sentence is useful for identifying a specific person as an いじめっ子.
Tatoeba #9345751 by small_snow, translation #2272766 by CK
あなたって、いじめっ子なの？
Are you a bully?
This sentence is useful for asking someone if they are an いじめっ子.
Tatoeba #8842230 by small_snow, translation #10126591 by tsp_2
あのいじめっ子を、やっつけておいで。
Go and beat up that bully.
This sentence is useful for describing an action taken against an いじめっ子.
Tatoeba #231370 by small_snow, translation #68738 by CK
学校のいじめっ子の問題に対処する必要があります。
We need to address the issue of school bullies.
秀夫はいつも俺をイジメるんだよ。
Hideo always bullies me.
いじめっ子になるなんて、信じられないよ。
I can't believe he turned into a bully.

Kenta and Misaki are talking about a problematic student at school.

健太 Kenta

クラスに、いじめっ子が一人いるんだ。
Kurasu ni, ijimekko ga hitori irunda.
There is one bully in our class.
美咲 Misaki

えっ、本当に？誰のこと？
Ett, hontou ni? Dare no koto?
What, really? Who is it?
健太 Kenta

秘密だけど、あの子だよ。
Himitsu dakedo, ano ko dayo.
It's a secret, but it's that kid.
美咲 Misaki

信じられない。ひどいね。
Shinjirarenai. Hidoi ne.
I can't believe it. That's awful.

Sources

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