How to say "eccentric" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 変人へんじんnounCovers 'eccentric' as a noun for a person whose behavior strikes others as odd; it is the plain word for an eccentric person, though it can carry a critical 'weirdo' edge.
- 奇抜きばつna-adjective, nounCovers 'eccentric' in the sense of strikingly unconventional; it describes ideas, designs, fashions or styles rather than a person's whole character, and its 'novel' side can sound admiring.
- 変わり者かわりものnounAlso a noun for an eccentric person, but typically with a lighter, more affectionate nuance — the 'character' or 'oddball' someone is fondly described as, rather than a harsh judgment.あいつはなんて変わり者だ。↗What an oddball he is!
- na-adjectiveThe borrowed English word itself, usable as a noun or na-adjective; choose it when you want to say 'eccentric' directly, as of a person's appearance, manner or style.
- 変へんna-adjectiveThe broad word for 'strange, odd, peculiar or weird'; on its own it just says something is odd, and for an eccentric person 変人 or 変わり者 is the sharper choice.
For eccentric people choose between 変人, 「変わり者」 and 「エキセントリック」; use 奇抜 for unconventional ideas, designs or styles; 変 is just the general word for 'strange or odd'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 変人へんじんeccentric
- 奇抜きばつ(very) unusual
- 変わり者かわりものeccentric
- エキセントリックeccentric
- 変へんstrange
- 風変わりふうがわりstrange
- 奇きstrange
- 奇矯ききょうeccentric
- 一風変わったいっぷうかわったeccentric
- 奇骨きこつeccentric
- 一種異様いっしゅいようeccentric
- 矯激きょうげきradical
- 旋毛曲がりつむじまがりperversity
- 振るったふるったdifferent
- 奇なるきなるodd
- 常軌を逸したじょうきをいっしたaberrant
- 常識はずれじょうしきはずれunconventional
- 突飛とっぴerratic
- 偏屈へんくつnarrow-minded
- おかしいstrange
- おかしなstrange
- 変わり種かわりだねperson with an unusual character or background
- 左巻きひだりまきeccentric
See also
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