きちがい
also: きちげぇ
Meanings
madness; insanity; crazy person; lunatic
Derogatory and highly sensitive term for mental illness or a person perceived as insane. Strongly offensive; avoid in polite conversation. Often used hyperbolically or as an insult.
Saying something like that is crazy (literally: seems like madness).
When he gets angry, he turns into an uncontrollable madman.
mania; craze; obsession; enthusiast; fanatic
Used as a suffix or standalone noun to indicate an extreme obsession or enthusiast. Often derogatory or self-deprecating, e.g., 釣りきちがい (fishing nut). Less sensitive than sense 1 but still informal and potentially offensive.
He's a workout fanatic and goes to the gym every day.
That person is a game maniac, so you'll get along.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉気違いan obsessive fan/enthusiast of〈事〉
He's a fishing nut and goes to the river every weekend.
- 気違いのように〈動詞〉to do something like a madman/crazily
He kept working like a madman.
Expressions
- 気違いに刃物incredible danger; giving a sword to a madman