腹黒い

• Reading: はらぐろい
• Romaji: haraguroi
• Kanji breakdown: 腹 (fuku/hara) — belly, inner mind; 黒 (koku/kuro) — black
• Pronunciation: /hɑɾɑgɯɾo̞i/

Meaning

Scheming; wicked; black-hearted; malicious. Describes someone who conceals sinister or self-serving intentions beneath a pleasant exterior.

An i-adjective combining 腹 (belly, used in Japanese to represent one's true inner character) and 黒い (black). The 'black belly' metaphor implies hidden malice — the person appears friendly on the surface but harbours ulterior motives. Used both in serious contexts and colloquially with a degree of dark humour.

Examples

1. あの笑顔の裏に腹黒い計算が潜んでいるとは夢にも思わなかった。 I never dreamed that scheming calculations lurked behind that smile.
2. 彼は腹黒い人物で、親友さえも平気で利用して捨てた。 He is a black-hearted person who would use and discard even his closest friend without hesitation.
3. 表向きは親切そうだが、実は腹黒いことで社内では有名だった。 He appears kind on the surface, but he is actually well-known around the office for being devious.

Usage Guide

Context: character description, social commentary, fiction

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 腹 (belly — in Japanese culture, the seat of true feelings and intentions, as opposed to the face which shows a social mask) and 黒い (black). A 'black belly' signifies concealed evil or treachery.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal