Temper
Idioms, Stage 4chunk 20 of 22What people are like
The ki ga set for temperament: feisty, hasty, timid, short-tempered, plus caving under pressure.
- ki ga tsuyoistrong-willed, feistyliterally “the spirit is strong”
- ki ga hayaijumping the gun, getting ahead of oneselfliterally “the spirit is early”
- ki ga yowaitimid, faint-heartedliterally “the spirit is weak”
- ki ga mijikaishort-tempered, impatientliterally “the spirit is short”
- oshi ni yowaicaves in when pushedliterally “weak to pushing”
Mix-ups ki ga hayai (jumping the gun) vs ki ga mijikai (impatient). ki ga tsuyoi and ki ga yowai are opposites. ki ga yowai (timid) vs oshi ni yowai (caves when pushed).
ki ga tsuyoi
polite ki ga tsuyoi desu
“the spirit is strong”
strong-willed, feisty
About someone who speaks their mind and won't back down, often said of a woman or a child: kanojo, ki ga tsuyoi kara. Praise or complaint depending on tone; the opposite is ki ga yowai (timid).
Before a noun: ki no tsuyoi hito.
uchi no imouto, ki ga tsuyoi n da yo.
My little sister's pretty feisty.
うちの妹、気が強いんだよ。
uchi no imouto wa ki ga tsuyoi n desu yo.
My younger sister is quite strong-willed.
うちの妹は気が強いんですよ。
Written 気が強い · きがつよいHeard 24× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ki ga hayai, ki ga yowai, ki ga mijikai, oshi ni yowaiMain list uchi (Stage 1), n da yo (Stage 3)
ki ga hayai
polite ki ga hayai desu
“the spirit is early”
jumping the gun, getting ahead of oneself
In English: jump the gun
A light tease for someone planning or celebrating too early, like booking the honeymoon before the proposal: mada ki ga hayai yo. Not ki ga mijikai (short-tempered).
Also about yourself: chotto ki ga hayai kedo (it's early, but...).
mou kurisumasu no junbi? ki ga hayai ne.
Getting ready for Christmas already? You're getting ahead of yourself!
もうクリスマスの準備？気が早いね。
mou kurisumasu no junbi desu ka? ki ga hayai desu ne.
Preparing for Christmas already? You're certainly keen!
もうクリスマスの準備ですか？気が早いですね。
Written 気が早い · きがはやいHeard 10× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ki ga tsuyoi, ki ga yowai, ki ga mijikai, oshi ni yowaiMain list mou (Stage 1), hayai (Stage 3), mada (Stage 1)
ki ga yowai
polite ki ga yowai desu
“the spirit is weak”
timid, faint-hearted
About someone shy and timid who can't refuse or speak up, very often yourself: ki ga yowakute kotowarenai. The opposite of ki ga tsuyoi; oshi ni yowai is narrower (caves when pushed).
Close: ki ga chiisai (faint-hearted); single word: okubyou (cowardly).
watashi, ki ga yowai kara kotowarenai n da.
I'm too timid to say no.
私、気が弱いから断れないんだ。
watashi, ki ga yowai node kotowarenai n desu.
I'm too timid to turn people down.
私、気が弱いので断れないんです。
Written 気が弱い · きがよわいHeard 6× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ki ga tsuyoi, ki ga hayai, ki ga mijikai, oshi ni yowaiMain list -kara (Stage 1), -eru / -rareru (Stage 2)
ki ga mijikai
polite ki ga mijikai desu
“the spirit is short”
short-tempered, impatient
In English: have a short fuse
About someone who loses patience or temper fast, such as a parent, a boss or yourself. Not ki ga hayai, which means jumping the gun.
Single word people say more: tanki (short-tempered); plainest: sugu okoru (gets angry fast).
kare, chotto ki ga mijikai n da yo ne.
He's a bit short-tempered.
彼、ちょっと気が短いんだよね。
kare wa chotto ki ga mijikai n desu yo ne.
He can be a little short-tempered.
彼はちょっと気が短いんですよね。
Written 気が短い · きがみじかいHeard 12× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ki ga tsuyoi, ki ga hayai, ki ga yowai, oshi ni yowaiMain list chotto (Stage 1), okoru (Stage 3), sugu (Stage 2)
oshi ni yowai
polite oshi ni yowai desu
“weak to pushing”
caves in when pushed
In English: a pushover
About someone who gives in when asked insistently, by a salesperson, a persistent admirer or a friend begging a favour; constant in dating talk (kanojo, oshi ni yowai kara). Narrower than ki ga yowai (timid in general).
Opposite: oshi ga tsuyoi (pushy).
watashi, oshi ni yowai n da yo ne.
I always cave if someone pushes.
私、押しに弱いんだよね。
watashi, oshi ni yowai n desu yo ne.
I tend to give in when people push.
私、押しに弱いんですよね。
Written 押しに弱い · おしによわいHeard too rare in film subtitles to countLearn alongside ki ga tsuyoi, ki ga hayai, ki ga yowai, ki ga mijikaiMain list n da (Stage 1)