Translation guide
Describes deriving pleasure from one's own pain, humiliation, or suffering. In Japanese, this is most commonly expressed with the loanword マゾヒスティック or its abbreviation マゾ, but native expressions also exist.
To describe a person, behavior, or tendency where one enjoys being hurt, humiliated, or dominated, often in a psychological or sexual context.
Abbreviation of マゾヒスト/マゾヒスティック. Very common in casual conversation. Can be used as a noun (a masochist) or na-adjective (masochistic).
彼はちょっとマゾなところがある。
He has a bit of a masochistic side.
私、マゾかもしれない。
I might be a masochist.
Full loanword from English 'masochistic'. Used as a na-adjective. Slightly more formal or clinical than マゾ.
彼のマゾヒスティックな傾向が心配だ。
I'm worried about his masochistic tendencies.
Literary/technical term meaning 'masochistic'. Rare in everyday speech; used in psychology or formal writing.
被虐的な空想にふける。
Indulge in masochistic fantasies.
Describing a person who seems to enjoy difficult, painful, or self-sacrificing situations, often in a non-sexual, everyday context.
Literally 'likes to push oneself into a corner'. Natural way to describe someone who seems to enjoy putting themselves through hardship.
彼女は自分を追い込むのが好きなタイプだね。
She's the type who likes to push herself, isn't she?
Means 'to enjoy hardship'. Used for someone who seems to find satisfaction in difficult tasks or suffering.
彼は苦労を楽しむところがある。
He has a tendency to enjoy hardship.
Can be used jokingly in non-sexual contexts to describe someone who seems to enjoy suffering.
こんなに残業して、マゾなんじゃない？
Working overtime like this, are you a masochist or something?
While 被虐的 is a direct translation, it sounds very technical and is rarely used in daily conversation. Stick to マゾ or マゾヒスティック unless writing a psychology paper.
マゾ is often used in a lighthearted, self-deprecating way among friends. It doesn't necessarily imply a sexual context unless specified.