気(き)まぐれ

きまぐれ
na-adjective
capricious; whimsical; fickle
descriptive
1. capricious; whimsical; fickle
Acting on sudden impulses or changing moods unpredictably.
彼(かれ)は気(き)まぐれな性格(せいかく)だ。
He has a capricious personality.
猫(ねこ)は気(き)まぐれな動物(どうぶつ)だ。
Cats are capricious animals.
気(き)まぐれな天気(てんき)で、朝(あさ)は晴(は)れていたのに午後(ごご)から雨(あめ)になった。
The weather was unpredictable — it was sunny in the morning but started raining in the afternoon.
2. whim; caprice
A sudden, impulsive action or decision (noun usage).
気(き)まぐれで髪(かみ)を切(き)った。
I cut my hair on a whim.
彼女(かのじょ)の気(き)まぐれに付(つ)き合(あ)うのは大変(たいへん)だ。
It's exhausting to go along with her whims.
気(き)まぐれで始(はじ)めた趣味(しゅみ)が、いつの間(ま)にか本気(ほんき)になっていた。
A hobby I started on a whim had turned serious before I knew it.

Forms

気(き) (mind, mood) + まぐれ (random, chance) → random mood = capricious

  • 気(き)まぐれな人(ひと) - a capricious person
  • 気(き)まぐれで - on a whim
  • 気(き)まぐれに - capriciously

Common expressions

Usage

Can be used neutrally (describing unpredictability), positively (charmingly spontaneous), or negatively (unreliable). Often used affectionately for cats and similar behaviors.

Related Words

Related: 気分屋(きぶんや) (moody person)
Compare: お天気屋(てんきや) (moody person)
Compare: 飽(あ)きっぽい (easily bored)
Compare: 移(うつ)り気(ぎ) (fickle)
Compare: 変(か)わりやすい (changeable)
Compare: 機嫌(きげん)屋(や) (moody person)
Compare: 飽(あ)き性(しょう) (fickle nature)
general
Added 2026.1.19 13:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07319_kimagure