Translation guide
Describes a person whose romantic feelings or loyalties change easily and unpredictably. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific adjectives, idiomatic phrases, and verbs that emphasize changeability, lack of commitment, or emotional instability.
To describe someone who falls in and out of love quickly, or whose affections are unreliable.
The most direct and common way to describe a person with a fickle heart. 移り気 means 'changeable feelings' or 'fickleness', often used in romantic contexts.
彼は移り気な人だから、長続きしない。
He has a fickle heart, so his relationships don't last.
To talk about the heart or feelings as being inherently changeable, often in a philosophical or poetic sense.
A common saying meaning 'people's hearts are easily changeable'. Uses the verb 移ろう (to change, to shift), which is more poetic than 変わる.
人の心は移ろいやすいものだ。
The human heart is a fickle thing.
移り気 (utsurigi) refers to a general fickleness or changeability in feelings, not necessarily involving cheating. 浮気性 (uwakishou) specifically implies a tendency toward infidelity or playing the field. Use 移り気 for innocent changeability, and 浮気性 when unfaithfulness is involved.
The phrase 'fickle heart' translated literally as 気まぐれな心 (kimagure na kokoro) is not natural Japanese. 気まぐれ means 'whimsical' and is more about mood than romantic feelings. Stick to the expressions above.
Refers to a person who is prone to cheating or being unfaithful. Stronger than 移り気, implying a tendency to have multiple romantic interests.
浮気性の彼氏にはうんざりだ。
I'm fed up with my fickle-hearted boyfriend.
Literally 'a person whose heart changes easily'. A more explicit description, often used when someone's feelings shift suddenly.
彼女は心変わりしやすい人だ。
She has a fickle heart.
Means 'easily bored' or 'quick to lose interest'. Can describe a fickle heart when the person quickly tires of partners.
飽きっぽい性格だから、恋愛も長く続かない。
Because I get bored easily, my relationships don't last long either.
A noun meaning 'change of heart', often used when someone's feelings or intentions change, especially in love.
突然の心変わりに驚いた。
I was surprised by his sudden change of heart.
A proverb meaning 'a woman's heart is as changeable as the autumn sky'. Used humorously or stereotypically to describe fickleness.
女心と秋の空と言うけど、本当にそうだね。
They say a woman's heart is as fickle as the autumn sky, and it's really true.