Translation guide
Describes someone who habitually opposes or does the opposite of what is expected, often for the sake of being different or difficult.
To describe a person who often takes the opposite stance or does the opposite of what others want or expect.
A person who deliberately does the opposite of what is advised or expected; a contrarian by nature. Often used in a slightly humorous or self-deprecating way.
To describe someone who is stubbornly uncooperative or resistant to others' wishes.
A person who lacks cooperativeness; someone who doesn't play well with others. More neutral and descriptive.
彼は協調性がない人だから、チームワークが苦手だ。
He's an uncooperative person, so he's not good at teamwork.
Both describe a contrary person, but 天邪鬼 (あまのじゃく) often implies a playful or inherent contrarian nature, while へそ曲がり (へそまがり) can sound more negative, like someone who is perverse or deliberately obstructive.
There is no single Japanese word that directly translates 'contrary person' in all contexts. Using 逆の人 (ぎゃくのひと) would be unnatural. Choose the term that best fits the nuance of stubbornness, perversity, or contrarianism.
彼は天邪鬼だから、褒めるとすぐに否定する。
He's such a contrary person that if you praise him, he'll immediately deny it.
Literally 'twisted navel', meaning a perverse or contrary person who goes against the grain. Slightly colloquial.
あの人はへそ曲がりで、みんなが右と言えば左に行く。
That person is so contrary that if everyone says right, they go left.
A person who takes the opposite position or goes against the trend, often used in contexts like investing or opinions.
彼はいつも逆張りする人だから、会議で必ず反対意見を言う。
He's always a contrarian, so he invariably voices opposing opinions in meetings.
Similar to へそ曲がり, meaning a perverse or cross-grained person. Somewhat old-fashioned.
あのつむじ曲がりの老人は、何でも文句を言う。
That contrary old man complains about everything.
A bigoted or eccentric person who stubbornly sticks to their own ways; implies a cranky contrarian.
あの偏屈者を説得するのは無理だ。
It's impossible to persuade that contrary old crank.