悪あく魔まの３さん歳さい

expression, noun

terrible threes; threenager phase

A parenting term for the difficult, rebellious behavior often seen in three-year-olds, analogous to the 'terrible twos'. The literal gloss 'devilish threes' reflects the Japanese phrasing.

See also: 魔の２歳

• うちの子こは今いま、悪あく魔まの３歳さいで、毎まい日にちが戦たたかいです。

  My child is in the terrible threes right now, and every day is a battle.

• 悪あく魔まの３歳さいはいつ終おわるんだろう。

  I wonder when the threenager phase will end.