娘：「庭にバラの苗を植えようと思うの」
母：「それはいいわね。きっと毎年きれいなバラが楽しめるわ」
父：「僕は反対だ。大体手入れが大変だよ」
娘：「お父さんはへそまがりね。何でも反対するんだから」
Hesomagari
Musume: Niwa ni bara no nae wo ueyoo to omou no.
Haha: Sore wa ii wa ne. Kitto mainen kireina bara ga tanoshimeruwa.
Chichi: Boku wa hantai da. Daitai teire ga taihen da yo.
Musume: Otoosan wa hesomagari ne. Nan demo hantai suru'n dakara.
Daughter: I'm thinking of planting some roses in the garden.
Mother: A lovely idea. We'll have beautiful roses to enjoy every year.
Father: I object. Roses require too much care and attention.
Daughter: Oh, you can be so negative, Father. You'll oppose anything.
The colloqualism hesomagari refers to a person who contradicts others just for contradiction's sake.
If someone says 'East,' they'll say, 'West.' If someone says 'black,' they'll say 'white.' Whatever the subject, they take the opposite. A related expression is tsumuji magari (a screwball; a crack; an eccentric.)
Doko demo hesomagari wa iru (Uncongenial and contrary people can be found anywhere ; ) in any country, of any age, of either sex. I must admit, however, that when someone says ano hito wa hesomagari da (he's a contrary person) I will usually first think they are referring to a somewhat older (at least middle-aged) man. Why? This is probably because only those who have the freedom to oppose everyone else's opinions can become hesomagari. If a woman or young person opposes everyone else, they won't be referred to with the humorous expression hesomagari. A stronger, more negative expression, will be used. To be able to be called hesomagari is thus, in a sense, quite special. It all depends, of course.
Let's continue the conversation.
Daughter:Hesomagari no otosan wa hotte okimashoo (Let's just leave cranky 'ole Dad alone.)
Mother:Let's. I just can't understand why he was so against the idea. He likes flowers so much.
And so the mother and daughter go to a nearby nursery and buy some rose seeds. A number of nurseries are near the square in front of the station. Each shop displays its best flowers and trees. Though the hydrangea and peonies are beautiful, nothing compares to the variously-colored roses. The two decide to buy seeds for some crimson-colored and some pale pink roses.
Mother: Kore nara ikura hesomagari no otosan I demo kitto ki ni iru wa (I'm sure even Dad, with all his contrary ways, will like these.)
Daughter: I think so too.
They plant the seeds in the garden and come June, the roses bloom to provide a wonderfully colorful accent to the garden. Who do you think is the first to freet the flowers each morning? Father. It's for reasons like this that hesomagari no hito no iken ni shitagau hitsuyo wa arimasen (It's not necessary to listen to the opinions of contrary people. )