How to say "temper" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 機嫌きげんnounCovers 'temper' as a momentary mood, as in being in a good or bad temper. It refers to how someone feels right now rather than to lasting character, and it often appears in expressions about pleasing or checking on someone's mood.
- 鍛えるきたえるichidan verb, transitive verbThis is the verb 'to temper' in the sense of tempering steel by forging, and by extension hardening or training the body and mind. Use it only for this action; it never describes anyone's mood or disposition.
- 気心きごころnounMeans 'temper' as a person's inner disposition or makeup, the way someone fundamentally is. It is typically discussed in the context of getting to know or understanding another person's true nature.
- 気性きしょうnounAlso refers to 'temper' as settled character or temperament, such as an easygoing or fiery nature. Unlike 機嫌, it describes stable traits rather than a passing mood of the moment.
- お天気おてんきnounLiterally the weather with an honorific prefix, it can describe changeable moods, so it may render 'temper' in that fleeting sense. It is really the weather word, however, and is seldom the word you want for 'temper'.
Choose 機嫌 or 「お天気」 for someone's passing mood, 気性 or 気心 for settled temperament, and 「鍛える」 for the verb 'to temper' metal or train oneself.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 機嫌きげんhumour
- 鍛えるきたえるto forge
- 気心きごころtemper
- 気性きしょうdisposition
- 癇癪かんしゃくtemper
- テンパーtemper
- 癇かんtemper
- 焼きを入れるやきをいれるto temper
- 錬るねるto temper (steel)
- ご機嫌ごきげんhumour
- かんしゃく玉かんしゃくだまfit of anger
- 機嫌気褄きげんきづまhumour
- 気褄きづまhumour
- むかっ腹むかっぱらanger
- 風向きかざむきmood
- お天気おてんきmood
- 薄めるうすめるto soften (e.g. a statement, impression, etc.)
- 疳かんtemper
- 悪い虫わるいむしpassion
- 練るねるto temper (steel)
See also
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