1.
eccentric, weirdo, oddball, strange person
A person whose behavior, thinking, or interests are noticeably unusual or unconventional. Can be used critically or affectionately depending on context.
あの人はちょっと変人だ。
That person is a bit of an eccentric.
周りからは変人扱いされているが、本人は気にしていない。
He's treated as an oddball by those around him, but he doesn't care.
天才と変人は紙一重だとよく言われる。
It's often said that there's a fine line between genius and eccentricity.
USAGE:
The tone depends on context. Among friends, calling someone a 変人 can be affectionate, acknowledging their unique personality. In other contexts, it may be dismissive or insulting. The phrase 天才と変人は紙一重 (genius and eccentricity are paper-thin apart) is a well-known saying.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 変人扱い: being treated as an oddball
- 変人呼ばわり: being called an oddball
- かなりの変人: quite an eccentric
SIMILAR WORDS:
変人 is relatively neutral compared to alternatives. 変な人 (strange person) is more casual. 奇人 (eccentric) is more literary and may carry a sense of admiration. 変態 has a much stronger negative meaning and should not be confused with 変人.