皮肉な
hinikuna
The Japanese word for 'ironic' is 皮肉な (hinikuna).
皮肉な is used to describe something that is ironic in a situational sense, but it is also very frequently used to mean 'sarcastic' or 'sneering' in a personal sense.
Meaning: characterized by irony (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
皮肉な is a na-adjective, so it requires な when modifying a noun directly.
How do you pronounce it?
hinikuna
Did you know?
- The kanji in 皮肉 literally translates to 'skin' and 'meat'.
- There is a related term 皮肉屋 (hinikuya) which describes a person who is habitually sarcastic. The suffix 屋 (ya) is usually used for shops or trades, suggesting the person has made sarcasm their 'profession'.
- If you want to describe a 'fortunate coincidence' that feels ironic without the sting of sarcasm, Japanese speakers often use 運命のいたずら (unmei no itazura), meaning 'fate's prank'.
Examples in context
- それは皮肉な結果ですね。Sore wa hiniku na kekka desu ne.That is an ironic result.
- 皮肉な運命だと思いました。Hiniku na unmei da to omoimashita.I thought it was an ironic fate.
- 彼は皮肉な態度をとった。Kare wa hiniku na taido o totta.He took an ironic attitude.
Example conversation
Hana and Hiroto are talking about a friend who hates exercise but became a gym teacher.
- 陽葵 Himari運動が嫌いだった彼が先生になるなんて。Undou ga kirai datta kare ga sensei ni naru nante.To think he became a teacher when he hated exercise.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に皮肉な話だよね。Hontou ni hinikuna hanashi da yo ne.It really is an ironic story.
- 陽葵 Himariでも、今は仕事に誇りを持っているみたい。Demo, ima wa shigoto ni hokori o motte iru mitai.But it seems he takes pride in his work now.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれなら良かったね。Sore nara yokatta ne.Well, that's good then.
