Japanese with Manga

Getting on one's nerves with 気に食わない

Idiom Explanation: Dissatisfaction with 気に食わない

Manga panel from レンタルおにいちゃん showing example of Getting on one's nerves with 気に食わない.
レンタルおにいちゃん » Volume 2 » Page 28

Following the death of their parents, Kanami’s big brother Kazutaka became secluded and abusive. Kanami begins to spend time with Makoto, a “rental big brother” whose advice gives her hope in restoring her brother’s former kindness. Kazutaka rebukes her attempts, suggesting that Makoto’s filling her with nonsense ideas.

一敬(かずたか):
「気(き)に食(く)わないんだよ」
“He gets on my nerves.”
Literal: “He doesn't get eaten by my spirit.”
「適当(てきとう)な甘(あま)い言葉(ことば)で金(かね)を取(と)り続(つづ)けるような奴(やつ)」
“He's the kind of guy who keeps taking (rental) money while spouting alluring words.”

Key Points

1気に食わない means he rubs me the wrong way
  • Kazutaka is not talking about food; this idiom means someone is displeasing or irritating.
  • んだよ makes the dislike sound like the explanation for his attitude.
2The wording is openly hostile
  • 適当な and 甘い both undercut Makoto’s advice as careless and tempting.

Vocabulary

(Words)

言葉(ことば) means words, language, or speech. In modern Japanese this is the most common everyday compound containing 葉.

(Appropriate)

適当(てきとう) means appropriate, suitable, or fitting. In casual use it can also mean careless or random, but the core idea is matching what fits the situation.

See Also

レンタルおにいちゃん © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.