気きまま

き

ま

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

Describes a person who acts according to their own desires without considering others, often with a negative connotation.

彼かれは気きままな性せい格かくで、周まわりの迷めい惑わくを考かんがえない。
He has a selfish personality and doesn't consider the trouble he causes others.

気きままに振ふる舞まうと、友とも達だちを失うしなうよ。

If you act willfully, you'll lose your friends.

2

na-adjective, noun

carefree; free-spirited; do-as-you-please

Describes a lifestyle or attitude of doing what one likes without being bound by rules or others' expectations; can be positive or neutral.

退たい職しょく後ごは気きままな一人ひとり旅たびを楽たのしんでいる。
After retirement, I'm enjoying carefree solo travel.
彼かの女じょは気きままに絵えを描かいて暮くらしている。
She lives a free-spirited life, painting as she pleases.

Written forms

気きままUsage80%
Standard modern spelling; the second kanji is usually written in kana.
気き儘ままUsage14%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the kyūjitai 儘 is uncommon in modern writing.
きままUsage5%
気き侭ままUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 侭 is a variant of 儘.

Kanji

気spirit, mind, air
儘as it is, because
侭as it is, because

Similar words

わがまま
わがまま is more strongly negative, implying selfish demands or tantrums, while 気まま can be neutral or even positive when describing a free lifestyle.
自じ由ゆう
自由 is a broader term for freedom or liberty, without the nuance of personal whim or self-indulgence that 気まま carries.

Etymology

Compound of 気 (ki, 'spirit, mind') and まま (mama, 'as is, at will'). The exact origin of まま is uncertain, but it conveys the idea of leaving things to one's own inclination.