やんちゃする
やんちゃする
verb (suru)
to act up, to be naughty, to be wild
1.
to be naughty, to act up, to misbehave
Describes childish misbehavior or playful troublemaking, typically by children.
うちの子はよくやんちゃする。
My kid is always acting up.
男の子はやんちゃするものだよ。
Boys will be boys.
子供がやんちゃして、壁に落書きをした。
The kids got into mischief and scribbled on the wall.
2.
to be wild, to raise hell, to get into trouble
When used about teenagers or young adults, describes rebellious or delinquent behavior, often looking back on it nostalgically.
若い頃はやんちゃしてたな。
I was pretty wild when I was young.
学生時代にやんちゃした仲間と久しぶりに会った。
I met up with friends I used to raise hell with back in school.
ちょっとやんちゃしすぎて、先生に怒られた思い出がある。
I have memories of going too wild and getting scolded by the teacher.
The noun form やんちゃ can also be used as a な-adjective: やんちゃな子 (a naughty child).
When adults describe their own past やんちゃ, it often carries a nostalgic or self-deprecating tone, sometimes even a hint of pride in having been rebellious.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- やんちゃな子: a naughty/rambunctious kid
- やんちゃ盛り: at the peak of mischievous age
- 若い頃のやんちゃ: youthful wildness