いじめる

• Reading: いじめる
• Romaji: ijimeru
• Kanji breakdown: 苛 (ka/ijime) — bully, torment (usually written in hiragana)
• Pronunciation: /i.dʑi.me.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To bully; to torment; to tease cruelly. Describes causing suffering to someone weaker or vulnerable.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Typically written in hiragana rather than the kanji form 苛める. The noun form いじめ (bullying) is widely used in discussions about school bullying, a significant social issue in Japan. The person being bullied takes the particle を.

Examples

1. 弱い人をいじめるのは絶対にいけません。 You must never bully someone who is weaker than you.
2. 学校でいじめられている子を助けたいです。 I want to help the kid who is being bullied at school.
3. 動物をいじめてはいけないと教えられた。 I was taught that you should never be cruel to animals.

Usage Guide

Context: school, social issues, morality

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Derived from the adjective いじましい (pitiful, touching). The kanji 苛 means harsh or torment, combining 艹 (grass) with 可 (possible).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal