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Meaning

a contrarian

A contrary person who deliberately goes against what others say. Originally a wicked demon in folktales that reads people's minds and gets in their way.

Example

やめろと言われるとやりたくなる天邪鬼な性分だ。

I'm a contrarian by nature: tell me not to do something and I want to do it.

Origin

There are several theories about its origin. One traces it to Ama no Sagume (天探女), a goddess with a wicked heart in the myths of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, though some dictionaries regard this as a folk etymology. In Buddhism, the demon face on the belly of Bishamonten's armor was called amanojaku (海若), and the name is said to have later been applied to the small demon trampled under his feet as well. In the folktale Urikohime it appears as the villain who disguises itself as the princess.

Sources