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面憎い (つらにくい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
i-adjective
irritating ; obnoxious ; provoking
Describes someone's expression, attitude, or behavior that is deliberately annoying or offensive, often with a sense of smugness or insolence. Stronger than just 'annoying'; implies a personal, face-to-face provocation.
あの 面つら 憎にく い 態たい 度ど を なん と か し て ほしい 。
I wish he would do something about that obnoxious attitude.
Similar words 憎にく たらしい 憎たらしい is a more general term for 'hateful' or 'detestable', while 面憎い specifically focuses on the irritating facial expression or demeanor.
小こ 憎にく らしい 小憎らしい means 'impudent' or 'saucy', often used for cheeky children or underlings. 面憎い is more about a provoking, smug look.
Etymology Compound of 面 (つら, 'face, expression') and 憎い (にくい, 'hateful, detestable'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period to describe an irritatingly smug or provoking facial expression.
