Translation guide
Describes someone or something that changes mood, behavior, or decisions suddenly and unpredictably. Japanese expresses this through adjectives describing personality, weather, or whims, often emphasizing inconsistency or selfishness.
To say someone is moody, fickle, or changes their mind often without reason.
A common na-adjective/noun meaning whimsical or fickle. Can describe a person or their actions. Neutral to slightly negative.
彼は気まぐれな人だ。
He is a capricious person.
気まぐれで旅行に行くことにした。
On a whim, I decided to go on a trip.
Literally 'changing mood', often used for romantic fickleness or easily shifting interests. Slightly literary.
彼女は移り気で、すぐに他の人を好きになる。
She is capricious in love and quickly falls for someone else.
Colloquial noun meaning a moody person who acts on whims. Often used critically.
あの上司は気分屋だから、機嫌を損ねないように気をつけて。
That boss is capricious, so be careful not to upset him.
Means easily bored or quick to lose interest. Focuses on lack of persistence rather than mood swings.
彼は飽きっぽくて、趣味がすぐ変わる。
He is capricious and his hobbies change quickly.
To say the weather changes suddenly and unpredictably.
Literally 'easy to change', commonly used for changeable weather. Neutral.
春の天気は変わりやすい。
Spring weather is capricious.
Can also describe weather whimsically, as if it has a mind of its own.
To say a decision or rule seems random, based on whim rather than reason.
Works for decisions made on a whim.
彼の判断は気まぐれだ。
His decisions are capricious.
Means arbitrary, often with a nuance of self-serving or unfair. Formal.
気まぐれ is the most versatile and neutral, covering whimsical actions, people, and things. 移り気 specifically implies fickleness in affections or interests, often used in romantic contexts. 気分屋 is a colloquial, slightly negative term for a moody person who acts on whims.
彼は気まぐれで、突然歌い出す。
He is capricious and suddenly starts singing.
移り気な性格で、恋愛が長続きしない。
With a capricious nature, her relationships don't last long.
あの人は気分屋で、昨日と言ってることが違う。
That person is capricious; what they say today differs from yesterday.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches all nuances of 'capricious'. Using 気まぐれ is safe for most contexts, but be aware of the specific nuance you want to convey.
気まぐれな空模様だ。
The sky looks capricious.
The application of the rule was capricious.