How to say "bad-tempered" in Japanese

• 気が荒いきがあらい
  expression, i-adjectiveCovers the aggressive, quarrelsome side of 'bad-tempered': a rough, combative temper that flares up quickly. Use this form to state that someone is like that — a headstrong person quick to argue or fight.
• 気の荒いきのあらい
  expression, i-adjectiveThe same idiom as 気が荒い, in the form used directly before a noun: a rough, aggressive, quarrelsome temperament. Use it when describing a bad-tempered person, as in talking about a colleague's fiery character.
• 機嫌の悪いきげんのわるい
  expression, i-adjectiveCovers the 'in a bad mood' sense: someone grumpy or cross right now, rather than a settled rough temperament. Fits a colleague who is short with people all morning.
  その機嫌きげんの悪わるい男おとこは自分じぶんの娘むすめにがみがみいった。↗

  The bad-tempered man snapped at his daughter.
• 虫の居所が悪いむしのいどころがわるい
  expression, i-adjectiveAn idiom for someone irritable and grumpy at the moment, often for no clear reason — a passing mood, not a rough nature. Suits a normally easygoing person who is snappish all afternoon.
• 気難しいきむずかしいCommon
  i-adjectiveThe common, everyday choice: it covers both a difficult, sullen temperament and a passing bad mood. Describes someone hard to please or approach — glum and moody — and is a safe default for most senses.
  彼女かのじょは気難きむずかしそうに見みえるが、本当ほんとうは優やさしい。↗

  She looks bad-tempered, but she is kind at heart.

Choose 「気が荒い」, or 「気の荒い」 before a noun, for a rough, aggressive, quarrelsome nature; 「機嫌の悪い」 and 「虫の居所が悪い」 for a passing grumpy mood; and the common 「気難しい」 for a sullen, difficult temper in general.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 気が荒いきがあらいbad-tempered
• 気の荒いきのあらいbad-tempered
• 機嫌の悪いきげんのわるいbad-tempered
• 虫の居所が悪いむしのいどころがわるいirritable
• 気難しいきむずかしいbad-tempered