なきむし

なきむし
noun
crybaby
1. crybaby, person who cries easily
A person, typically a child, who cries frequently or easily. Can be used teasingly or descriptively.
なきむし！
Crybaby!
あの子(こ)はなきむしだ。
That child is a crybaby.
小(ちい)さい頃(ころ)はなきむしだったけど、今(いま)は強(つよ)くなった。
I was a crybaby when I was little, but now I've become strong.

なきむし describes a person (usually a child) who cries frequently or easily. Can also be written in kanji as 泣(な)き虫(むし).

WORD FORMATION:
泣(な)き (crying, from 泣(な)く) + 虫(むし) (bug). The むし suffix creates personality-type words implying the person is "infested" with the trait.

THE ～虫(むし) PATTERN:

  • なきむし/泣(な)き虫(むし): crybaby
  • 弱虫(よわむし): coward, weakling
  • 怠(なま)け虫(むし): lazybones
  • 泣(な)き虫(むし): crybaby (same as なきむし)

USAGE:
Most commonly used among children as a mild taunt. Adults may use it self-deprecatingly (子供(こども)の頃(ころ)はなきむしだった — I was a crybaby as a kid). Not strongly offensive but can sting depending on context.

RELATED PERSONALITY WORDS:

  • 甘(あま)えん坊(ぼう): clingy/spoiled person
  • 意気地(いくじ)なし: coward, gutless person
  • 照(て)れ屋(や): easily embarrassed person
general
Added 2026.1.31 13:25 · Revised 2026.4.7 11:46
09000/09096_nakimushi