(きげん)(そこ)ねる

きげんをそこねる
expression
to offend someone; to hurt someone's feelings
1. to offend someone; to put someone in a bad mood
To do or say something that upsets another person or damages their mood. Implies the other person's displeasure is the result of one's own actions.
彼女(かのじょ)機嫌(きげん)(そこ)ねてしまった。
I ended up offending her.
上司(じょうし)機嫌(きげん)(そこ)ねないように()をつけている。
I'm careful not to put my boss in a bad mood.
余計(よけい)一言(ひとこと)相手(あいて)機嫌(きげん)(そこ)ねることがあるから、言葉(ことば)(えら)びには注意(ちゅうい)しよう。
An unnecessary remark can offend someone, so let's be careful with our choice of words.

USAGE:
The subject (the offended person) is marked with の, and the offender is typically the grammatical subject of the sentence. Often used with てしまう to express regret.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 機嫌(きげん)(そこ)ねてしまう (end up offending)
  • 機嫌(きげん)(そこ)ねないように (so as not to offend)
  • 相手(あいて)機嫌(きげん)(そこ)ねる (offend the other person)

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • (おこ)らせる: to make someone angry — more direct, stronger emotion
  • ()(わる)くする: to take offense — describes the offended person's reaction rather than the offender's action