Translation guide
Describes a person or behavior that is unkind, spiteful, or mean-spirited. Focuses on expressing a fundamentally unpleasant or malicious disposition.
To describe someone who is habitually unkind, enjoys causing trouble, or has a malicious character.
The most common and versatile word for 'ill-natured' in the sense of being mean, spiteful, or unkind. Can describe a person or their actions.
彼女は意地悪な人だ。
She is an ill-natured person.
そんな意地悪を言わないで。
Don't say such ill-natured things.
Literally 'bad-natured', emphasizing a fundamentally mean or wicked disposition. Stronger than 意地悪.
彼は根性が悪いから信用できない。
He is so ill-natured that I can't trust him.
A somewhat old-fashioned or literary term for 'ill-natured' or 'bad-tempered'. Often used in set phrases.
あの人は生まれつき性悪だ。
That person is ill-natured by birth.
To describe specific actions, words, or attitudes that are unkind, nasty, or intended to hurt.
Adjectival phrase meaning 'spiteful' or 'ill-natured', used to modify nouns like remarks, actions, or smiles.
彼は意地の悪い笑みを浮かべた。
He gave an ill-natured smile.
意地の悪い質問をするな。
Don't ask ill-natured questions.
A general word for 'unpleasant' or 'nasty', often used for ill-natured remarks or behavior. Less specific than 意地悪.
嫌なことを言うね。
You say ill-natured things, don't you?
To describe someone who is easily angered, cranky, or has a sour disposition, often leading to ill-natured behavior.
Describes a person who is hard to please, moody, or ill-tempered. Implies a difficult personality.
彼は気難しい老人だ。
He is an ill-natured old man.
Means 'bad mood' or 'sullen'. Often used for temporary ill-natured behavior due to mood.
Means 'short-tempered' or 'irritable'. Focuses on the tendency to get angry easily, which can manifest as ill-natured behavior.
意地悪 is the most common term for everyday meanness or spite. 根性が悪い implies a deeper, more inherent bad nature and is stronger. Use 意地悪 for most situations.
彼は意地悪だけど、根性が悪いわけではない。
He is mean, but not fundamentally ill-natured.
There is no single direct equivalent. Translating 'ill-natured' as 病気の性質 (sick nature) would be nonsensical. Choose the Japanese word based on the specific nuance: spiteful (意地悪), fundamentally bad (根性が悪い), or irritable (気難しい).
Means 'deeply ill-natured' or 'malicious at heart'. Emphasizes a fundamental, hidden nastiness.
彼の底意地の悪さには驚いた。
I was surprised at his deep-seated ill nature.
He was ill-natured and didn't talk to anyone.
あの人は怒りっぽくて、すぐに意地悪になる。
That person is short-tempered and quickly becomes ill-natured.