皮肉
hiniku[çiɲ̟ikɯ̟]
In Japanese, the word for sarcasm is 皮肉 (hiniku).
皮肉 is a noun used to express derision or facetiousness.
Meaning: derision, facetiousness (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 皮 (skin/hide) and 肉 (meat/flesh), literally meaning 'skin and flesh,' which metaphorically refers to a 'sting' or a 'sharp remark' that hits the core of a person.
How do you pronounce it?
hiniku
Did you know?
- The word 皮肉 originated in Zen Buddhism to measure how deeply a student understood a teaching. It used the phrase 'skin, flesh, bones, and marrow' to distinguish between superficial knowledge and deep spiritual truth.
- Because Japanese culture highly values wa (harmony), using 皮肉 in a professional setting is often seen as a serious breach of etiquette rather than a witty joke.
- In Japanese literature, 皮肉 is often used to describe 'irony of fate' or a cruel twist of circumstances, not just a spoken remark.
Examples in context
- それは皮肉に聞こえちゃうかもね。That might sound like sarcasm.This sentence shows how to describe something that might sound like 皮肉.Tatoeba #10680808 by small_snow, translation #10768154 by end
- 彼女は皮肉を解さない。She doesn't understand sarcasm.This sentence illustrates a person's inability to understand 皮肉.Tatoeba #1749144 by mookeee, translation #1749140 by Spamster
- この問題は簡単ですよね。This problem is so easy, isn't it?
- それってすごいよね。That's so amazing, isn't it?
- まさかそんなことが起こるなんて。I can't believe something like that would happen!
- 彼の言葉には皮肉がたっぷり含まれている。Kare no kotoba ni wa hiniku ga tappuri fukumarete iru.His words are full of sarcasm.
Example conversation
Yuta and Yui are discussing a comment made by a colleague.
- 結衣 Yuiさっきの部長の発言、皮肉だったのかな？Sakki no buchō no hatsugen, hiniku datta no kana?Was the manager's comment just now sarcasm?
- 陽太 Yotaたぶん、そうだと思うよ。Tabun, sō da to omou yo.Probably, I think so.
- 結衣 Yui陽太君なら、気づいた？Yōta-kun nara, kidzuita?Did you notice it, Yuta?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、少し違和感があったよ。Un, sukoshi iwakan ga atta yo.Yeah, it felt a little strange.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sarcasm” translations and entries 皮肉, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 皮肉, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
