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底意地悪い (そこいじわるい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
i-adjective
deeply malicious ; spiteful at heart ; wicked
Describes a person whose fundamental nature is mean-spirited or spiteful, not just a momentary bad mood. Often used for someone who seems pleasant on the surface but harbors ill will.
の
底そこ
意い
地じ
悪わる
い
言こと
葉ば
に
傷きず
つい
た
。
I was hurt by her spiteful words.
Similar words 意い 地じ 悪わる 意地悪 is a more common and general term for 'mean' or 'spiteful,' while 底意地悪い emphasizes a deep-rooted, fundamental malice.
根こん 性じょう 悪わる い 根性悪い also means 'ill-natured' or 'wicked by disposition,' but 底意地悪い focuses more on hidden, underlying spite rather than overt bad character.
Etymology Compound of 底 (そこ, 'bottom, depths') + 意地悪い (いじわるい, 'mean, spiteful'), literally 'mean at the bottom of one's heart.' The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is transparently formed from these elements.