Translation guide
The English term 'pyromania' refers to a psychological compulsion to set fires. In Japanese, it is most commonly expressed using the clinical term 放火癖 (ほうかへき) or the borrowed word パイロマニア. For everyday use, describing the behavior with phrases like 火をつけたがる (ひをつけたがる) is more natural.
To refer to the psychiatric condition of pyromania in a formal or medical context.
The standard Japanese clinical term for pyromania, literally 'arson habit'. Used in medical and psychological contexts.
To describe someone who has a strong urge to set fires, without clinical terminology.
Literally 'wants to set fire'. A natural way to describe someone with fire-setting tendencies in everyday conversation.
あの子は火をつけたがるから注意が必要だ。
That kid likes to set fires, so we need to be careful.
Directly translating 'pyromania' as 火災狂 (かさいきょう) or similar made-up compounds will not be understood. Stick to 放火癖 or パイロマニア for clinical use, and descriptive phrases for casual contexts.
彼は放火癖と診断された。
He was diagnosed with pyromania.
A direct loanword from English, understood in psychological contexts but less common than 放火癖.
パイロマニアは稀な精神疾患です。
Pyromania is a rare mental disorder.
Means 'has an impulse to commit arson'. Slightly more formal than 火をつけたがる, but still used in non-clinical explanations.
彼は放火衝動があると告白した。
He confessed that he has an impulse to set fires.