気違い

Japanese

Kanji in this term
気	違
き Grade: 1	ちが Grade: S
kan’on	kun’yomi

Alternative spellings
氣違い (kyūjitai) 気狂い 基地外

Etymology

Verbal noun of 気(き)が違(ちが)う (ki ga chigau, “to be mad”). Analyzable as 気 (ki, “mind, temperament, character; mood, spirit”) +‎ 違い (chigai, “difference; mistake”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 違う (chigau, “to differ; to be mistaken”)).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) きちが​い [kìchígáꜜì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [kʲit͡ɕiɡa̠i]

Noun

気(き)違(ちが)い or 気違(キチガ)い • (kichigai) ^{←きちがひ (kitigafi)?}

1. (possibly offensive, derogatory) madman, lunatic
2. madness, insanity
3. (by extension) enthusiast, fan
   • 2003, Edward Elmer Smith, ファースト・レンズマン (Fāsuto Renzuman), →ISBN:

     「だからあなたの新(あたら)しいボスは釣(つ)り気(き)違(ちが)いだったのよ！」モリーはくすくす笑(わら)いながら言(い)った。

     “Da kara anata no atarashii bosu wa tsuri kichigai datta no yo!” Morī wa kusukusu warainagara itta.

     “I mean, your new boss was a real nut for angling!”, Molly said, giggling.

Usage notes

Due to perceived discriminatory connotations, this word is currently included in NHK's list of words banned from broadcasting.

Synonyms

• 狂(きょう)人(じん) (kyōjin)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 気(き)違(ちが)いに刃(は)物(もの) (kichigai ni hamono)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い雨(あめ) (kichigai ame)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い沙汰(ざた) (kichigai-zata)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い染(じ)みる (kichigai-jimiru)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い茄子(なすび) (kichigai nasubi)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い花(ばな) (kichigai-bana)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い病(びょう)院(いん) (kichigai byōin)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い日(び)和(より) (kichigai-biyori)
• 気(き)違(ちが)い水(みず) (kichigai mizu)

Related terms

• 気(き)が違(ちが)う (kigachigau, “to go insane”)