Japanese word

いじる

Pronunciation

Romajiijiru

Meaning

  • verbfiddle with

Example

弟はラジオをいじります。otōto wa ra ji o o i ji ri ma su

My younger brother fiddles with the radio.

Illustration for いじる (fiddle with)

More examples

私は説明書を読まずに設定をいじりました。watashi wa setsu mei sho o yo ma zu ni set tei o i ji ri ma shi ta

I fiddled with the settings without reading the instructions.

Core concept

Covers the act of getting involved with something or someone in a light but sometimes unwanted way.

Common phrases

  • 設定をいじるset tei o i ji ru

    fiddle with the settings

  • 電気製品をいじるden ki sei hin o i ji ru

    fiddle with an electronic device

Similar words

操作するsōsasuru: To control a device or system to make it work.
いじくるijikuru: To keep handling or changing something in a casual, often careless way.
からかうkarakau: To tease someone through casual words or actions.

Definition in Japanese

人や物に必要以上に関わり、あれこれ扱ったり変えたりする。hito ya mono ni hitsu yō i jō ni kaka wa ri a re ko re atsuka tta ri ka e ta ri su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb いじる (ijiru) has no securely established foreign source or older word formation, so its exact origin remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The same casual verb いじる (ijiru) applies to changing a device and teasing a person, with the object and situation showing which sense is intended.

Other meanings

  • teaseverb
  • modifyverb

Related words

  • いじりijirifiddlingnoun

Word lists with this word