Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

生意気 (なまいき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

生なま意い気き

な

ま

い

き

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

impertinent; cheeky; cocky

Describes someone, often younger or lower in status, who acts overly confident or disrespectful. Commonly used in phrases like 生意気なことを言う or 生意気だ.

あの子こは本ほん当とうに生なま意い気きだ。
That kid is really cheeky.
生なま意い気き

な

口くち

を

きく

な

。

Don't talk back to me like that.

Kanji

生life, genuine, birth
意idea, mind, heart
気spirit, mind, air

Similar words

図ずう々ずうしい
図々しい emphasizes shamelessness or thick-skinned behavior, while 生意気 focuses on overconfidence and disrespect, especially from someone younger or less experienced.
厚あつかましい
厚かましい implies brazenness or impudence in a more general sense, often about making unreasonable requests; 生意気 is more about attitude and talking back.

Etymology

Derived from 生 (なま, 'raw, fresh') and 意気 (いき, 'spirit, vigor'), suggesting a raw, unrefined spirit that oversteps its bounds. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound has been used since the Edo period to describe impertinence.