皮肉る

• Reading: ひにくる
• Romaji: hinikuru
• Kanji breakdown: 皮 (hi) — skin, leather; 肉 (niku) — meat, flesh
• Pronunciation: /çi.ni.kɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To speak sarcastically; to be ironic; to make cutting or caustic remarks. A verb form of 皮肉, used when someone deliberately says the opposite of what they mean to mock or criticise.

A Group 1 (godan) verb (ひにく + る) derived from the noun/na-adjective 皮肉. It implies a more active, intentional use of sarcasm compared to the noun form. Sarcastic remarks using this verb often carry a sharp, critical edge and are common in literary dialogue, editorial commentary, and casual conversation between close acquaintances.

Examples

1. 友人は私の遅刻を皮肉って、到着時間を丁寧な拍手で迎えた。 My friend sarcastically greeted my late arrival with a polite round of applause.
2. 彼女は社長の発言を巧みに皮肉りながら、鋭い批判を展開した。 She skillfully mocked the CEO's remarks while delivering sharp criticism.
3. 純粋に称えているのか皮肉っているのか、彼の真意がわからない。 I couldn't tell whether he was genuinely praising me or being sarcastic—his true intentions were unclear.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, literature, social commentary, humour

Tone: sarcastic

Origin & History

Derived from 皮肉 (cynicism, sarcasm), which literally means 'skin and flesh' — suggesting a superficial or cutting quality. The verb suffix -る was added in colloquial modern Japanese to form an action verb.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal