1.
eccentric; oddball; quirky person
A person whose behavior, habits, or thinking is notably unusual or unconventional. Can be used with mild affection or amusement.
あの教授は奇人で有名だ。
That professor is famous for being an eccentric.
彼は奇人だが、仕事の腕は確かだ。
He's an oddball, but his work skills are solid.
町には昔から奇人変人と呼ばれる人物が何人かいた。
The town has always had a few people who were called eccentrics and oddballs.
Composed of 奇 (strange, unusual) + 人 (person). Often used as part of the set phrase 奇人変人 (eccentrics and oddballs), which is a common four-character expression.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 奇人変人 (eccentrics and oddballs — often used as a pair)
- 奇人と呼ばれる (to be called an eccentric)
- 奇人で有名 (famous as an eccentric)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 変人 — weirdo, odd person (slightly more negative than 奇人)
- 変わり者 — unconventional person, nonconformist (milder, can be positive)
- 風変わり — peculiar, eccentric (na-adjective describing the quality itself)