also: いたづら
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb
The basic sense: playful or troublesome mischief, a prank, or a practical joke. Often used as いたずらをする or いたずらする.
誰かが玄関のベルを鳴らして逃げるいたずらをした。
Someone played a prank by ringing the doorbell and running away.
Even if it was a child's mischief, we cannot just laugh it off.
na-adjective
Na-adjective use, especially for a mischievous child, expression, smile, or look. It can sound playful rather than severely critical.
彼女はいたずらな笑みを浮かべた。
She gave a mischievous smile.
うちの猫はいたずらで、すぐ棚の上に登る。
Our cat is naughty and quickly climbs up onto the shelves.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
Humble, self-effacing use for one's own pastime or amateur pursuit. It is rare and old-fashioned compared with the ordinary word 趣味.
「ほんのいたずらで俳句を作っております」は、趣味をへりくだって言う古風な表現だ。
“I only compose haiku as a modest pastime” is an old-fashioned, self-effacing way to describe a hobby.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
play with; mess around with; tamper with
Used when someone fiddles with an object, tool, device, setting, or dangerous item in a careless or unauthorized way.
子どもがライターをいたずらしないよう、棚の上に置いた。
I put the lighter up on a shelf so the child would not play with it.
勝手にパソコンの設定をいたずらしないでください。
Please do not tamper with the computer settings without permission.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
sexual misconduct; molestation; sexual assault
Euphemistic use, especially in reports, for lewd acts or sexual assault. It can soften or obscure the seriousness of the act, so translate according to context.
女児にいたずらした疑いで、男が逮捕された。
A man was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl.