Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
気違い沙汰 (きちがいざた) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
insane behavior ; madness
sensitive
Strongly pejorative and offensive term for behavior or a situation that is wildly irrational or out of control. Considered discriminatory; avoid in polite conversation.
彼かれ の 突とつ 然ぜん の 辞じ 職しょく は 気き 違ちが い 沙汰ざた と しか 思おも え なかっ た 。
His sudden resignation could only be seen as insane behavior.
Written forms 気き 違ちが い 沙ざ 汰た
Standard kanji spelling. Note that 気違い is a sensitive term; this compound is also sensitive.
気狂きちが い 沙汰ざた
Alternate kanji form using 狂い instead of 違い; less common but still encountered.
きちがい 沙ざ 汰た
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; sometimes used to soften the kanji or for readability.
Kanji 汰 washing, sieving, filtering Similar words 狂きょう 気き 狂気 is a more neutral, literary term for 'madness' or 'insanity', without the direct pejorative and discriminatory edge of 気違い沙汰.
気き 違ちが い 気違い is the base noun meaning 'madman' or 'lunatic', also highly offensive. 気違い沙汰 extends this to describe actions or situations.
Etymology Compound of 気違い (madman, lunatic) + 沙汰 (affair, matter). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of combining a descriptor with 沙汰 to indicate a type of incident or behavior.