変人
henjin[hẽ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑĩɴ]
The Japanese word for "weirdo" is 変人 (henjin).
変人 is used to describe a strange person. While it can be used neutrally to describe someone with an eccentric personality, it often carries a derogatory nuance of being a 'weirdo' depending on the context.
Meaning: strange person (noun)
Which one should you use?
変人 is a more noun-like term. For a more common and conversational way to say "strange person", you can use 変な人. If you want to refer to an oddball or eccentric in casual conversation, use 変わり者. Another common, slightly derogatory way to say weirdo is 変な奴.
How do you pronounce it?
henjin
Did you know?
- When using 変な奴 to call someone a 'weirdo', the word 奴 was historically a term for a servant or slave, though it is now just a rough way to say 'guy' or 'fellow'.
- In Japanese social dynamics, there is a concept called 空気を読む, which means 'reading the air'. A 変人 is often someone who fails to 'read the air' and disrupts the unspoken harmony of a group.
- While 変人 can be an insult, calling a genius or a highly successful person a 変人 is often a compliment in Japan, implying their eccentricities are the secret to their brilliance.
Examples in context
- 「そのトムって人、変人なの？」「変人ってわけじゃないんだけど、なんというか、すごく個性的なんだよ」"This Tom guy, is he some kind of weirdo?" "I wouldn't say he's a weirdo. He's just…very unique."This example shows how to use 変人 when discussing whether someone is a weirdo or simply unique.Tatoeba #3052896 by tommy_san, translation #11391110 by DJ_Saidez
- 彼は少し変わった人ですねHe is a bit of an unusual person, isn't he?
- 彼女は風変わりな人ですが、面白いですよShe is an eccentric person, but she is interesting.
- あの人は本当に変な奴だよThat person is really a weirdo.
- 俺の友達はちょっと変わり者だけど、面白いやつだよMy friend is a bit of an oddball, but he's an interesting guy.
- あの人はちょっと変人だ。Ano hito wa chotto henjin da.That person is a bit of a weirdo.
- 変人と言われるのは嫌だ。Henjin to iwareru no wa iya da.I hate being called a weirdo.
Example conversation
Misaki and Daito are talking about a new classmate.
- 美咲 Misaki新しいクラスメート、ちょっと変人じゃない？Atarashii kurasumēto, chotto henjin janai?Isn't the new classmate a bit of a weirdo?
- 大翔 Hirotoそう思う？僕は面白いと思うよ。Sō omou? Boku wa omoshiroi to omou yo.You think so? I think he's interesting.
- 美咲 Misaki一人でずっと独り言を言っていたよ。Hitori de zutto hitorigoto o itte ita yo.He was talking to himself the whole time.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれなら、確かに変人かもしれないね。Sore nara, tashika ni henjin kamoshirenai ne.In that case, he might indeed be a weirdo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 変人, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
