noun
Refers to deriving pleasure from cruelty or inflicting pain. Often used in psychological or descriptive contexts. Related to 嗜虐性 (sadistic tendency) and 加虐 (inflicting harm).
彼の嗜虐的な性格が周囲を困らせている。
His sadistic personality is troubling those around him.
嗜虐と被虐は表裏
It is said that sadism and masochism are two sides of the same coin.
被虐 is masochism, the counterpart to sadism.
Compound of 嗜 (し, 'to have a taste for, to be fond of') and 虐 (ぎゃく, 'oppression, cruelty'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination directly conveys 'fondness for cruelty'.