English–Japanese

“mean” in Japanese

Japanese

Pronunciation

Romajiijiwaru

Example

彼は意地悪です。kare wa i ji waru de su

He is mean.

Illustration for 意地悪 (mean)

How to say “mean” in Japanese

“Mean” in Japanese is 意地悪 (ijiwaru).

Describes an unkind attitude or action that treats another person harshly or causes needless difficulty.

Full entry for 意地悪: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 意地悪

彼女は弟に意地悪な質問をして、困らせました。kano jo wa otōto ni i ji waru na shitsu mon o shi te koma ra se ma shi ta

She asked her little brother a mean question and made him uncomfortable.

Tips for using 意地悪

  • 意地悪 (ijiwaru) often highlights deliberate unkindness, so it can describe teasing or making things difficult as well as a generally mean attitude.

“mean” in other languages