noun
ruffian; villain; suspicious character
Refers to a person of dubious character, often with criminal or untrustworthy connotations. Can be used seriously or lightly.
あの男はどうも曲者だ。
That man seems like a suspicious character.
時代劇にはよく曲者が登場する。
Villains often appear in period dramas.
noun
peculiar person; idiosyncratic person; stubborn fellow
Describes someone with unusual habits, strong opinions, or a difficult personality. Often used with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
彼はなかなかの曲者で、自分の意見を曲げない。
He's quite a character; he never budges from his opinions.
あの作家は曲者ぞろいの登場人物を描くのがうまい。
That author is good at depicting a cast of idiosyncratic characters.
noun
tricky thing; something more than it seems
Used for objects, situations, or problems that are deceptively complex or have hidden difficulties.
このパズルはなかなかの曲者だ。
This puzzle is quite a tricky one.
一見簡単そうだが、この問題は曲者だ。
It looks easy at first glance, but this problem is a tricky one.
noun
expert; master; highly skilled person
Often used with a nuance of slyness or cunning skill, not just straightforward expertise. Can imply someone who is wily or crafty in their field.
彼は交渉の曲者だ。
He's a master of negotiation.
あの棋士はまさに曲者と呼ぶにふさわしい。
That shogi player truly deserves to be called a master.
noun
goblin; apparition; monster; ghost
Archaic or literary use for supernatural beings, especially in old tales. In modern contexts, it may appear in historical or fantasy settings.
古い物語には、曲者が夜な夜な現れる話がある。
In old tales, there are stories of goblins appearing night after night.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in informal writing.
Rarely used kanji form.
悪者 is a straightforward 'bad guy' or 'villain', while 曲者 implies cunning, suspiciousness, or hidden complexity.
変わり者 is a neutral 'eccentric person', whereas 曲者 often carries a more negative or wary nuance.
妖怪 is the standard term for supernatural monsters in folklore; 曲者 in the ghost sense is archaic and less specific.
Compound of 曲 (くせ, 'peculiarity; distortion') and 者 (もの, 'person'). The kanji 曲 suggests something bent or not straightforward, reflecting the core meaning of a person or thing that is not what it seems.