Translation guide
Describes someone whose feelings, loyalties, or decisions change frequently and unpredictably. Japanese has several colorful expressions, ranging from common idioms to literary terms.
Express that someone is emotionally or mentally changeable, often in a negative or critical way.
Literally 'many feelings/minds'. A common, slightly critical way to say someone is fickle, especially in romantic interests or hobbies.
彼は気が多いから、すぐに別の女の子に夢中になる。
He's fickle, so he quickly gets obsessed with another girl.
A noun meaning 'fickleness' or 'changeability'. Often used to describe a person's nature.
彼女の移り気には本当に困っている。
I'm really troubled by her fickleness.
An adjective meaning 'easily bored' or 'quick to lose interest'. Describes someone who doesn't stick with things.
彼は飽きっぽい性格で、何をやっても長続きしない。
He has a fickle personality; nothing he does lasts long.
A colloquial noun for someone who is moody and changes their mind based on how they feel at the moment.
あの人は気分屋だから、約束を急にキャンセルすることもある。
That person is fickle, so they sometimes cancel plans suddenly.
A noun meaning 'change of heart'. Often used in serious contexts like broken engagements or betrayals.
婚約者の心変わりで結婚は白紙になった。
The engagement was called off due to the fiancé's change of heart.
Describe someone who switches allegiances or is untrustworthy.
Literally 'betrayer'. Strong word for a traitor or someone who is disloyal.
彼は裏切り者だ。味方だと思っていたのに敵に情報を流していた。
He's a traitor. I thought he was an ally, but he was leaking info to the enemy.
Literally 'weathercock'. Metaphor for someone who opportunistically changes opinions or loyalties based on the situation.
Specifically refer to fickleness in love or romantic relationships.
Noun meaning 'philandering nature' or 'tendency to cheat'. Describes someone who is unfaithful or easily attracted to others.
彼は浮気性だから、付き合うのはやめたほうがいいよ。
He's a philanderer, so you'd better not date him.
Also used in romantic contexts to mean fickle affections.
気が多い implies having many interests or attractions at once, often romantic. 飽きっぽい means getting bored quickly with one thing and moving on. A person can be both, but the nuance differs.
気が多い人は同時に複数のことに手を出す。
A fickle person tries multiple things at the same time.
飽きっぽい人は一つのことをすぐにやめてしまう。
A person who gets bored easily quits one thing quickly.
There is no single Japanese word that directly corresponds to 'fickle person'. Using a literal translation like '変わりやすい人' is unnatural. Choose an expression based on the specific nuance you want.
彼は風見鶏だから、強い方にすぐつく。
He's a weathercock, so he quickly sides with whoever is stronger.
Literally 'double-sided plaster'. An old-fashioned term for someone who plays both sides, a double-dealer.
あの政治家は二股膏薬と言われている。
That politician is said to be a double-dealer.
彼女の移り気な恋愛には周りも呆れている。
Everyone is exasperated by her fickle love life.