いたずら

• Reading: いたずら
• Romaji: itazura
• Pronunciation: /i.ta.zɯ.ɾa/

Meaning

Trick; practical joke; mischief; prank. Playful or naughty behavior, especially by children.

Functions as a noun and suru verb (いたずらする — to play a prank). Can be written 悪戯 in kanji but hiragana is far more common. Ranges from harmless childhood pranks to unwanted meddling. いたずらっ子 means a mischievous child. Can also euphemistically refer to vandalism or tampering.

Examples

1. 子供たちがいたずらをして先生に怒られた。 The kids played a prank and got scolded by the teacher.
2. 誰かがポストにいたずらをしたらしい。 It seems someone messed with the mailbox.
3. 弟は小さい頃いたずらばかりしていた。 My little brother was always getting into mischief when he was small.

Usage Guide

Context: children, daily life, humor

Tone: playful

Origin & History

From classical Japanese. The kanji form 悪戯 combines 悪 (bad) and 戯 (play/frolic), but the word predates this ateji reading. Originally meant 'useless' or 'pointless,' later shifting to 'mischievous.'

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal