1.
eccentric; oddball; unconventional person
A person whose behavior, interests, or personality differs from what is considered normal or mainstream. Can be mildly negative or affectionately descriptive depending on context.
Usage
The tone depends heavily on context. It can be gently affectionate (describing a quirky but likeable person) or mildly critical (implying someone is hard to deal with). In Japanese society, which values conformity, being called a 変わり者 is not necessarily a compliment, though it is not as harsh as 変人.
Common collocations
- 変わり者で有名 (famous for being eccentric)
- ちょっとした変わり者 (a bit of an eccentric)
- 変わり者だと思われる (to be considered eccentric)