1.
contrary person; cynic; contrarian
A person who is perverse, contrary, or twisted in personality — someone who deliberately goes against the grain, sees things negatively, or refuses to go along with others out of stubbornness.
あいつはひねくれ者だ。
That guy is a contrarian.
ひねくれ者だから素直に喜べない。
Being a cynic, I can't just be straightforwardly happy about it.
彼はひねくれ者だが、根は優しい人だ。
He's a contrarian, but deep down he's a kind person.
From the verb ひねくれる (to become twisted/perverse) plus 者 (person). Describes someone whose personality or outlook is warped — they are difficult, contrary, or habitually negative. Can be used self-deprecatingly or about others. The term has a mildly negative tone but is often used with affection or humor.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ひねくれ者の性格: a contrarian personality
- ひねくれた見方: a twisted perspective
- ひねくれた考え方: a perverse way of thinking
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 天の邪鬼: contrarian — a person who deliberately says or does the opposite of what is expected, often playfully
- 偏屈: stubborn and difficult — emphasizes being set in one's ways and hard to deal with
- 皮肉屋: cynic, sarcastic person — focuses on using sarcasm or irony