いじわる
ijiwaru
In Japanese, "you're mean" is expressed as いじわる (ijiwaru).
It can function as a noun meaning "a mean person" or as an adjective to describe someone's character.
Which one should you use?
While いじわる implies being petty or spiteful, the word ひどい is used to describe more serious or heavy-handed cruelty, such as being "cruel" or "terrible."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the phrase sound more conversational and soft, you can add ね to the end, resulting in いじわるだね. This version is often used when teasing a friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word いじわる functions as a na-adjective, so you must use the form いじわるな to modify a noun directly. To say "you are mean" in a polite, complete sentence, you add です to the end of the word to form いじわるです.
How do you pronounce it?
ijiwaru
Did you know?
- In romantic contexts, いじわる is often used as a flirtatious way to call a partner 'teasing' rather than actually accusing them of being unkind.
- Using いじわる toward a superior in a professional setting is extremely rare and would be seen as a shocking breach of social etiquette.
- In Japanese children's literature and cartoons, いじわる is a classic character trait for minor villains who are more annoying and petty than truly dangerous.
Examples in context
- あなたは意地悪ですねYou're mean, aren't you?
- あなたはひどいですYou're cruel or awful.
- 君は意地悪だよYou're mean.
- すごくひどいよYou're really mean/awful.
- そんなこと言うなんて、いじわるだね。Sonna koto iu nante, ijiwaru dane.Saying something like that is mean.
- 彼はとてもいじわるな人です。Kare wa totemo ijiwaruna hito desu.He is a very mean person.
- いじわるしないでよ！Ijiwaru shinaide yo!Don't be mean!
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are arguing about a snack.
- 結衣 Yui私のチョコを勝手に食べたでしょ！Watashi no choko o katte ni tabeta desho!You ate my chocolate without permission, didn't you!
- 大翔 Hirotoそんなに怒るなんて、結衣は怖いよ。Sonna ni okoru nante, Yui wa kowai yo.You're so angry, Yui, it's scary.
- 結衣 Yui大翔くん、本当にいじわるなんだから。Hiroto-kun, hontoni ijiwaru nanda kara.Hiroto, you are really mean.
- 大翔 Hirotoごめん、悪かったよ。Gomen, warukatta yo.Sorry, my bad.
