サイコパス
saikopasu[sa̠iko̞pa̠sɨ]
The English word 'psychopath' is translated into Japanese as サイコパス (saikopasu). Wiktionary also lists 精神病質者 (seishinbyōshitsusha) and 人格障害者 (jinkakushōgaisha).
Meaning: person with a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| サイコパス | saikopasu | [sa̠iko̞pa̠sɨ] (narrow) |
| 精神病質者 | seishinbyōshitsusha | |
| 人格障害者 | jinkakushōgaisha |
The term refers to a person with a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term 精神病質者 is composed of 精神 meaning spirit or mind, 病質 meaning pathological nature and 者 meaning person.
Which one should you use?
While サイコパス specifically implies psychopathy, 人格障害者 is a broader term used to describe anyone with a personality disorder.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
サイコパス is the most common way to refer to a psychopath in casual conversation, media and pop culture. In contrast, 精神病質者 is a formal, technical term used in clinical or academic contexts to describe a person with psychopathic traits.
How do you pronounce it?
saikopasu
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'psychopath' is a heavy clinical term, サイコパス can be used jokingly among friends to describe someone who is ruthlessly efficient or cold-hearted in a game.
- The term サイコパス gained massive popularity in Japan partly due to the influence of the anime and manga series 'Psycho-Pass', which imagines a future where psychopathy is measured by a machine.
- The katakana term サイコパス is often used in Japanese true crime media to add a sense of sensationalism or 'coolness' to a killer's profile, whereas the native terms feel much more clinical and dry.
Examples in context
- あの映画の主人公は本当にサイコパスみたいな性格だったね。The protagonist of that movie had a personality that was truly like a psychopath.
- あの人はサイコパスかもしれない。Ano hito wa saikopasu kamoshirenai.That person might be a psychopath.
- サイコパスの映画を見た。Saikopasu no eiga o mita.I watched a movie about a psychopath.
- 彼はサイコパスのような振る舞いをした。Kare wa saikopasu no yōna furumai o shita.He behaved like a psychopath.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are discussing a character in a movie.
- 陽葵 Himariこの映画の犯人は本当にサイコパスだね。Kono eiga no hannin wa hontou ni saikopasu da ne.The culprit in this movie is a real psychopath, isn't he?
- 健太 Kentaうん、全く感情が見えないよね。Un, mattaku kanjou ga mienai yo ne.Yeah, you can't see any emotion at all.
- 陽葵 Himariあんなに冷たい人間がいるなんて怖いよ。Anna ni tsumetai ningen ga iru nante kowai yo.It's scary that there are people that cold.
- 健太 Kentaでも、映画だから大丈夫だよ。Demo, eiga dakara daijoubu da yo.But it's just a movie, so it's okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “psychopath” translations and entries サイコパス, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
