Каме может, и я смогу
This is my second entry to introduce the Japanese words that are difficult to translate into English. Today I’d like to talk about the word “namaiki 生意気.”
The word “namaiki” takes a very unique position. It is primarily classified as a noun, but this word actually is hardly used by itself as a noun. Rather it is often accompanied by –na な, -ni に or –da だ and is sometimes introduced to Japanese learners as “na-adjective” or “adjectival noun.”
Technical explanation aside, the word “namaiki” is defined as follows:
“Namaiki” describes someone’s language and behavior inappropriate for his/her age, experience, position, ability or a combination of these things. The word also refers to someone’s inappropriate behavior that is perceived as arrogant.
When you look up “namaiki” or “namaiki-na” in Japanese-English dictionaries, you will find the words like impudence, sass, saucy, cocky, etc. on the equivalent word list, but I’d have to say “namaiki(-na)” is best described as smart-ass or smart-ass attitude in English.
lang-8.com/152113/journals/516619
生意気 (-na inflection, hiragana なまいき, rōmaji namaiki)
cheeky, impertinent, fresh, wise
и еще вот тут:
Another fun Japanese "lazy American" phrase went something like this (complete with motions): "Ichy knee [scratch leg], sun she go [point to sky, arc hand laterally]." Congratulations! You just counted from 1 to 5 in Japanese.
tenser.typepad.com/tenser_said_the_tensor/2004/...
The word “namaiki” takes a very unique position. It is primarily classified as a noun, but this word actually is hardly used by itself as a noun. Rather it is often accompanied by –na な, -ni に or –da だ and is sometimes introduced to Japanese learners as “na-adjective” or “adjectival noun.”
Technical explanation aside, the word “namaiki” is defined as follows:
“Namaiki” describes someone’s language and behavior inappropriate for his/her age, experience, position, ability or a combination of these things. The word also refers to someone’s inappropriate behavior that is perceived as arrogant.
When you look up “namaiki” or “namaiki-na” in Japanese-English dictionaries, you will find the words like impudence, sass, saucy, cocky, etc. on the equivalent word list, but I’d have to say “namaiki(-na)” is best described as smart-ass or smart-ass attitude in English.
lang-8.com/152113/journals/516619
生意気 (-na inflection, hiragana なまいき, rōmaji namaiki)
cheeky, impertinent, fresh, wise
и еще вот тут:
Another fun Japanese "lazy American" phrase went something like this (complete with motions): "Ichy knee [scratch leg], sun she go [point to sky, arc hand laterally]." Congratulations! You just counted from 1 to 5 in Japanese.
tenser.typepad.com/tenser_said_the_tensor/2004/...
) милее всего герой Кимуры и герой Сато Такуми. Очень уж они хорошо вдвоем 
