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小生意気 (こなまいき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

小こ生なま意い気き

こ

な

ま

い

き

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

impudent; cheeky; impertinent

Describes someone, often younger or less experienced, who acts overly confident or disrespectful beyond their standing. Used as a noun or na-adjective.

あの新しん人じんは小こ生なま意い気きな口くちをきく。
That new guy talks cheekily.
小こ

生なま

意い

気き

な

態たい

度ど

を

とる

な

。

Don't take an impertinent attitude.

Kanji

小little, small
生life, genuine, birth
意idea, mind, heart
気spirit, mind, air

Similar words

生なま意い気き
生意気 is a more common and slightly stronger word for impudence. 小生意気 adds a nuance of being 'a little' or 'somewhat' cheeky, often implying the person is young or in a lower position.

Etymology

Compound of 小 (ko, 'small') and 生意気 (namaiki, 'impudence'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period.