皮肉|ひにくhiniku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. na-adjective, no-adjectiveirony; sarcasm; cynicism; satire
    私はあなたの皮肉ひにくな言葉ことばは聞き捨ききずてにはできません。↗
    I resent your cynical remarks.
  2. na-adjective, no-adjectiveunexpected; different from what one expected; not as one had planned
  3. noun(only) surface; something superficial
  4. nounskin and bone; bodyliteral meaning
Conjugation
Plain form皮肉(ひにく)
Polite (desu)皮肉です(ひにくです)
Negative (dewa nai)皮肉ではない(ひにくではない)
polite (dewa arimasen)皮肉ではありません(ひにくではありません)
Past (datta)皮肉だった(ひにくだった)
Past negative (dewa nakatta)皮肉ではなかった(ひにくではなかった)
Te form (de)皮肉で(ひにくで)
Adverbial (ni)皮肉に(ひにくに)
Conditional (nara)皮肉なら(ひにくなら)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym風刺ふうしNeutralSatire: mocking people's or society's flaws without direct criticism, as in 「風刺画」; mostly seen in works. 「皮肉」 is verbal digs, and also plans going awry.
  • SynonymアイロニーNeutralLoanword for irony, used mostly in literary criticism. 「皮肉」 is the everyday word and also covers ironic twists of fate.
  • SynonymイロニーWrittenWritten variant of 「アイロニー」, leaning toward literary theory. In daily conversation, say 「皮肉」.
  • SynonymアイロニックNeutralLoanword adjective meaning 'ironic'. 「皮肉な」 is the more common choice in everyday use.
  • Related嫌味いやみNeutralNasty, cutting remarks that make the listener uncomfortable. 「皮肉」 centers on roundabout, veiled sarcasm.
  • RelatedアイロニカルNeutralLoanword adjective with the same meaning as 「アイロニック」. In everyday speech, 「皮肉な」 is the natural choice.
  • Antonym正直しょうじきNeutralHonesty: not telling lies. The opposite of 「皮肉」, whose remarks carry veiled, roundabout barbs.
  • Antonym率直そっちょくNeutralFrank, direct speech. The opposite of 「皮肉」, which gets its point across by roundabout sarcasm.

Default to 「皮肉」 for roundabout sarcasm or ironic twists of fate, as in 「皮肉を言う」「皮肉な結果」. Use 「嫌味」 for nasty cutting remarks, 「風刺」 for social satire, and 「アイロニー」 for literary irony; the antonyms 「正直」 and 「率直」 are honest and frank.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 皮かわと肉にく、身体しんたい・肉体にくたいのこと。
  2. 鋭するどく骨身ほねみにこたえるような非難ひなん。特とくに遠回とおまわしで意地いじの悪わるい非難ひなん。特とくに、事実じじつや意図いとする主張しゅちょうと逆ぎゃくの事象じしょうを述のべ、そうではないことに非難ひなんの意い等とうを込こめる言辞げんじ、逆説ぎゃくせつ。あてこすり。いやみ。
  3. うわべだけのさま。皮相ひそう。骨髄こつずいに対たいして、皮肉ひにくは表面的ひょうめんてきであるさまを指さす。
  4. (哲学てつがく、修辞学しゅうじがく)表面的ひょうめんてきな立ち居たちい振る舞ふるまいによって本質ほんしつを隠かくすこと、無知むちの状態じょうたいを演えんじること。イロニー、アイロニー。
  5. 意地いじが悪わるい。
  6. 逆説的ぎゃくせつてきであること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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