How to say "ironic" in Japanese

• アイロニック
  na-adjectiveA loanword taken straight from 'ironic'; use it for the everyday sense in which a situation or remark is the opposite of what was meant or expected, including ironic coincidences.
• 反語的はんごてき
  na-adjectiveBuilt on 反語, irony as a figure of speech; it fits the rhetorical sense, where wording deliberately says the opposite of what is meant, more than ironic coincidence.
• アイロニカル
  na-adjectiveThe loanword of the variant form 'ironical'; it works much like アイロニック, typically describing a tone, manner, or smile that is knowingly ironic, and the two are largely interchangeable.
• 風刺的ふうしてき
  na-adjectiveReally 'satirical' or 'sarcastic'; it matches 'ironic' only when the irony serves to mock or criticize, so for an ironic twist of fate or coincidence it is seldom the word you want.

For irony as a figure of speech choose 反語的; for the general sense of 'ironic' either loanword, 「アイロニック」 or 「アイロニカル」, works; 風刺的 fits only when the irony mocks or satirizes.

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

• アイロニックironic
• 反語的はんごてきironic
• アイロニカルironical
• 風刺的ふうしてきsatirical