意地悪

• 読み: いじわる
• ローマ字: ijiwaru
• 漢字の分解: 意 (i) — will, intention; 地 (ji) — ground, disposition; 悪 (aku/waru) — bad, evil
• 発音: /i.dʑi.wa.ɾɯ/

意味

Mean; spiteful; unkind. Describes a person or behaviour that is deliberately nasty.

Functions as both a na-adjective and noun. As a noun, refers to a mean person or the act of being mean (意地悪をする, to be mean to someone). Common in everyday conversation, especially among children and in descriptions of personality. Lighter than 残酷 (cruel).

例文

1. あの子はクラスで意地悪なことばかり言う。
2. 弟に意地悪をしてはいけません。
3. 意地悪な質問をされて困った。

使い方ガイド

場面: school, personality descriptions, complaints

トーン: disapproving

起源と歴史

Compound of 意地 (iji, disposition/stubbornness) and 悪 (waru, bad). The word literally means 'bad disposition,' describing someone whose temperament inclines toward unkindness.

文化的背景

時代: Edo

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal