意地悪|いじわるijiwaru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. na-adjective, nounmalicious; ill-tempered; unkind; mean; nasty
   彼女かのじょの意地悪いじわるな言葉ことばは結局けっきょく自分じぶんの身みに跳ね返はねかえってきた。↗

   Her unkind words boomeranged.

• Synonym悪質あくしつNeutralVicious or nasty in quality, as in 「悪質な詐欺」; typical of crimes and wrongdoing, and far more serious than 「意地悪」.
• Synonym底意地悪いそこいじわるいCasualColloquial. Suggests spite and sneakiness at the very core, stressing deep-seated malice more than 「意地悪」, which can be no more than surface teasing.
• Synonym意地悪いいじわるいNeutralAn adjective for being mean-spirited and deliberately teasing, as in 「意地悪い質問」; much the same as the headword, though 「意地悪」 also works as a noun in 「意地悪をする」.
• RelatedいやらしいNeutralCovers things that are unpleasant or nasty, as in 「嫌らしい言い方」, and often carries a sexual overtone; 「意地悪」 is specifically about deliberately making trouble for someone.
• Related悪意あくいNeutralA noun for malice or ill will, as in 「悪意のある噂」; it names the motive, while 「意地悪」 is the mean act itself, like obstructing someone or making life hard for them.
• Related憎いにくいNeutralExpresses the speaker’s hatred of someone, as in 「憎い相手」, and is also used ironically as praise; 「意地悪」 describes how the other person treats you, not your feeling.
• Related憎らしいにくらしいNeutralHateful or maddening, as in 「憎らしい子」, and also ironic praise for someone adorable; it centers on the speaker's feelings rather than the behavior itself.
• Related卑劣ひれつNeutralContemptible and shameless, as in 「卑劣な手段」; it condemns underhanded methods in stronger terms than 「意地悪」.
• Related邪悪じゃあくWrittenWritten style for wickedness rooted in one's nature, as in 「邪悪な心」; a far graver charge than 「意地悪」.
• Related醜悪しゅうあくWrittenWritten style for something ugly and sordid, as in 「醜悪な争い」, and also for hideous looks; stronger than 「意地悪」.
• Related卑怯ひきょうNeutralCowardly or unsporting, as in 「卑怯な手を使う」; it targets unfair, underhanded tactics rather than teasing, and can also mean simply timid.
• Related悪気わるぎNeutralIll will, most often denied — 「悪気はなかった」 is the standard line for excusing oneself; 「意地悪」 refers to actually being mean to someone.
• RelatedひどいNeutralVery common in speech and broad in range: cruel or outrageous, as in 「ひどいことを言う」, and also for saying how severe something is.
• Related憎々しいにくにくしいNeutralDescribes a look or manner that strikes you as hateful, as in 「憎々しい態度」; the focus is the impression it gives, while 「意地悪」 focuses on the teasing behavior itself.
• RelatedえげつないCasualColloquial with a Kansai flavor, for ruthless, blatant methods, as in 「えげつない仕打ち」; far harsher than 「意地悪」.
• Related厭わしいいとわしいWrittenWritten and rare. Conveys the speaker's own loathing; unlike 「意地悪」, it does not describe someone deliberately picking on others.
• Related下劣げれつWrittenWritten style. Condemns a base, vulgar character, as in 「下劣な行為」; a harsher judgment on someone's character than 「意地悪」.
• Related疎ましいうとましいWrittenWritten style. Describes something you find disagreeable and want to keep at a distance, as in 「疎ましく思う」; it is the speaker's feeling, not teasing of others.
• Related毒々しいどくどくしいNeutralSuggests something looks poisonous or venomous, as in 「毒々しい言葉」, and can also describe garish colors; not specifically about picking on people.
• Related憎たらしいにくたらしいCasualColloquial, an intensified 「憎らしい」; often said of children or the like who get on your nerves, voicing the speaker's irritation.
• Related悪念あくねんWrittenWritten and rare, for evil thoughts or designs; in everyday speech use 「悪意」, and for concrete teasing use 「意地悪」.
• Related意趣いしゅWrittenWritten style for a grudge held and repaid, as in 「意趣返し」; 「意地悪」 need not spring from any grudge.
• Related毒気どっきNeutralPoison gas or, figuratively, malice, as in 「毒気を抜かれる」; mostly seen in set phrases, rarely standing alone for malice.
• Related邪気じゃきNeutralMalice or an evil aura, often negated to picture innocence, as in 「邪気のない笑顔」; 「意地悪」 refers to mean, obstructive behavior toward others.
• Antonym親切しんせつNeutralAntonym: warm-hearted and eager to help, as in 「親切な人」 — the opposite of deliberately making things hard for people.
• Antonym優しいやさしいNeutralAntonym: gentle, considerate and kind to others, as in 「優しい人」 — the opposite of the mean streak 「意地悪」 describes.

Use 「意地悪」 for deliberately teasing people or making trouble for them. For the malicious motive behind something, pick 「悪意」; for despicable, underhanded methods, 「卑劣」 or 「卑怯」; for vicious conduct such as scams, 「悪質」. Words like 「憎い」 and 「憎らしい」 voice the speaker's own hatred or irritation rather than describing behavior. The opposites are 「親切」 and 「優しい」.

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

1. 性質せいしつ、意地いじが悪わるいこと。また、そのようなさま。