Translation guide
Describes a tendency to get angry quickly. Japanese has several common expressions ranging from personality traits to temporary states.
Describing someone who is generally quick to anger as part of their character.
Describing a temporary mood where one is easily annoyed or quick to snap.
Means 'irritated' or 'on edge'. Describes a temporary state of being easily annoyed.
今日はイライラしている。
I have a short temper today.
Onomatopoeic expression for being edgy or testy. Slightly more colloquial than イライラ.
短気 is a more formal, character-describing term, while 怒りっぽい is slightly more colloquial and emphasizes the frequency of anger. 気が短い is a common, neutral phrase.
短気は損気。
A short temper leads to loss. (proverb)
Do not translate 'short temper' literally as 短い気性 or similar. Use the established expressions above.
He has a short temper.
短気な性格
a short-tempered personality
Literally 'one's spirit is short'. A common set phrase meaning 'short-tempered'.
父は気が短い。
My father has a short temper.
An i-adjective meaning 'easily angered' or 'quick to anger'. Emphasizes the tendency to get angry.
彼女は怒りっぽい。
She is short-tempered.
Literally 'to cause short temper', meaning 'to lose one's temper' or 'to get angry quickly'. More of an action than a trait.
彼はすぐに短気を起こす。
He quickly loses his temper.
He's been short-tempered lately.