Translation guide
Describes a state of being easily irritated, annoyed, or bad-tempered, often over small things. Japanese expresses this through adjectives, verbs, and descriptive phrases that convey irritability, grumpiness, or a prickly mood.
To describe someone who is in a bad mood and easily annoyed, often without a major reason.
A common adjective/noun meaning 'bad mood' or 'sullen'. Used with だ/です or な to describe a person or state.
He is peevish today.
Literally 'mood is bad', a very natural way to say someone is in a bad mood or irritable.
She is peevish and doesn't want to talk to anyone.
Describes a state of irritation or frustration, often from stress or minor annoyances. More active than just being in a bad mood.
He is peevish from being kept waiting.
Expresses a pent-up, irritable feeling, like being in a foul mood and wanting to snap at someone.
Nothing is going right and I feel peevish.
Describes a prickly, snappy attitude, often in a cold or standoffish way. More about behavior than internal feeling.
She is peevish today and hard to approach.
To describe a person who is habitually or temporarily quick to take offense or become irritated over trivial matters.
Describes a person who is hard to please, touchy, or easily annoyed. Often used for a personality trait.
He is a peevish old man.
Means 'short-tempered' or 'quick to anger'. Can be used as a noun or adjective (短気な).
Literally 'get angry over trivial things'. A descriptive phrase to explain peevish behavior.
Means 'prone to anger' or 'irritable'. The っぽい suffix indicates a tendency.
To describe a peevish attitude that is immature, whiny, or sulky, often associated with children or childish adults.
Verb meaning 'to sulk' or 'to pout'. Describes a peevish, childish reaction when things don't go one's way.
The child is being peevish because he couldn't get the toy.
Verb meaning 'to pout' or 'to sulk', often with a visual of puffing out one's cheeks. Similar to すねる but more physical.
Verb often used for children who are whiny, fussy, or peevish, especially when tired or hungry.
不機嫌 and 機嫌が悪い both mean 'in a bad mood', but 不機嫌 is slightly more formal and can describe a sullen, unapproachable state. 機嫌が悪い is more colloquial and directly states the mood is bad. イライラしている implies active irritation or frustration, often from a specific cause, and can be more temporary.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'peevish'. Avoid trying to translate it directly; instead, choose the expression that best fits the specific nuance (grumpy, irritable, sulky, etc.). Using 不機嫌 or 機嫌が悪い is the safest general option.
He is peevish and gets angry quickly.
She is peevish, getting angry over little things, so she's hard to handle.
I become peevish when I'm tired.
彼女は怒ってふくれている。
She is peevish and pouting.
The baby is peevish because she's sleepy.