How to say "sissy" in Japanese

• 弱虫よわむしCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers the coward, weakling, scaredy-cat sense of 'sissy' — someone timid or easily frightened. This common, everyday word is usually the natural choice for teasing a person who lacks courage rather than for the effeminate sense.
  彼かれは弱虫よわむし扱あつかいをされておこった。↗

  He resented being called a coward.
• シスターボーイ
  nounA direct loanword targeting the effeminate-male sense of 'sissy'. It is less common, so it is seldom the word you want; its gloss is essentially just 'sissy', and other options are generally more useful.
• 意気地なしいくじなし
  noun, na-adjectiveMatches the cowardly sense: a spineless person with no guts or resolve, also glossed 'loser'. It carries a contemptuous, insulting tone, and it is less common than 弱虫 for the timid-wimp sense.
• 根性なしこんじょうなし
  noun, na-adjectiveA gutless person — someone with no fighting spirit or grit. It overlaps with the coward/sissy sense but is less common, and its nuance centers on lacking backbone rather than on timidity or effeminacy.
• 女々しいめめしい
  i-adjectiveAn adjective meaning effeminate or unmanly, also cowardly. It fits the effeminate, unmanly sense of 'sissy' when describing a man's character or behavior, and is less common than the coward-related nouns.

For the coward/wimp sense, 弱虫 is the common everyday choice, with 「意気地なし」 and 「根性なし」 as sharper insults; 「シスターボーイ」 and 「女々しい」 cover the effeminate sense, though both are less common.

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

• 弱虫よわむしcoward
• シスターボーイsissy
• 意気地なしいくじなしcoward
• 根性なしこんじょうなしcoward
• 女々しいめめしいeffeminate
• 女の腐ったようおんなのくさったようunmanly