いじり

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

meddling; fumbling; fondling; playing around with

usually written using kana alone

Refers to touching, adjusting, or interfering with something in a casual, often idle or playful way. Can be used as a suffix in compounds like スマホいじり (playing with one's smartphone).

彼かれはいつも機き械かいいじりが好すきだ。
He always likes tinkering with machines.
スマホいじりに夢む中ちゅうで、話はなしを聞きいていなかった。
He was so absorbed in playing with his smartphone that he didn't listen to the conversation.

See all 12 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉いじりfiddling/playing around with something
彼かれは授じゅ業ぎょう中ちゅうもスマホいじりをやめない。
He won't stop fiddling with his smartphone even during class.
〈物もの〉いじりが好すきだto like tinkering/fiddling with something
祖そ父ふは昔むかしから機き械かいいじりが好すきだった。
My grandfather has always liked tinkering with machines.

Kanji

弄play with, tamper, trifle with

Related words

いたずらN3
いたずら emphasizes mischievous or prank-like behavior, while 弄り is broader and can be a neutral or idle physical fiddling with something.

Don't confuse with

いじめN3
弄り refers to casual fiddling or playful meddling, whereas いじめ means cruel bullying, so learners should not confuse the two despite the similar いじ- sound.

Word family

土つちいじり
playing with dirt; messing around in the soil · gardening; hobby farming

Written forms

弄いじりUsage2%
Kanji form; usually written in kana.
いじりUsage79%
Kana spelling is standard for this word.
イジリUsage19%

Etymology

Derived from the verb 弄る (いじる, 'to touch, fiddle with'). The noun form 弄り is used to describe the act of meddling or playing with something.