天邪鬼あまのじゃく

noun, na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

perversity; contrariness; perverse person; contrarian

Describes a person who deliberately does the opposite of what is expected or reasonable, or the trait itself. Often used in the phrase 天邪鬼な性格 (a contrary personality).

• 彼かれは天邪鬼あまのじゃくだから、みんなが右みぎと言いえば左ひだりに行いく。

  He's such a contrarian that if everyone says right, he goes left.

• 天邪鬼あまのじゃくな態たい度どをとるのはやめなさい。

  Stop taking such a perverse attitude.

noun

antagonistic demon in Japanese folklore

A mythical creature known for opposing and contradicting others; often depicted as a small demon or goblin that does the opposite of what it is told.

• 昔むかし話ばなしに出でてくる天邪鬼あまのじゃくは、いつも人ひとに逆さからってばかりいる。

  The amanojaku in old tales is always going against people.

noun

demon under the feet of temple guardian statues

In Buddhist iconography, a small demon figure trampled underfoot by guardian deities such as Niō, symbolizing the subjugation of evil.

• 仁に王おう像ぞうの足あし元もとに踏ふまれている天邪鬼あまのじゃくは、煩ぼん悩のうの象しょう徴ちょうとされる。

  The amanojaku trampled under the feet of the Niō statue is considered a symbol of worldly desires.