Translation guide
Describes someone who has an excessively high opinion of themselves, their abilities, or their appearance. Japanese expressions range from mild to strong, and many are idiomatic.
To describe a person who is generally conceited, arrogant, or full of themselves.
The most common and natural way to say someone is conceited. Implies an inflated self-image, often without good reason.
彼は自分の才能にうぬぼれている。
He is conceited about his talent.
Literally 'elevated in thought', this is a strong term for arrogance and conceit, often implying a lack of humility.
成功して思い上がっている。
He's gotten conceited after his success.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'to become a tengu' (a mythical boastful creature). Used when someone gets a big head after success or praise.
彼はちょっと褒めるとすぐ天狗になる。
He gets conceited as soon as you praise him a little.
Literally 'riding the rhythm', this means getting carried away or cocky, often due to a temporary success or good mood.
調子に乗って自慢ばかりしている。
He's getting conceited and bragging all the time.
A formal and strong word for arrogance, often used in written or serious contexts. Implies looking down on others.
彼の傲慢な態度には我慢できない。
I can't stand his conceited attitude.
To describe someone who is vain or conceited specifically about their looks.
Directly states someone is conceited about their appearance.
彼女は自分の外見にうぬぼれている。
She is conceited about her looks.
Loanword from 'narcissist'. Commonly used for someone who is excessively vain and self-absorbed about their appearance.
彼は完全なナルシストだ。
He's a total narcissist.
A casual way to say someone thinks they're cool/handsome, often implying conceit.
あいつは自分をかっこいいと思ってるよね。
That guy is so conceited about how cool he is.
To describe someone who is conceited about their skills, knowledge, or intelligence.
Standard way to say someone is conceited about their abilities.
彼は自分の能力にうぬぼれているから、失敗するかもしれない。
He's so conceited about his abilities that he might fail.
Means to act like a know-it-all, pretending to know more than one does. Implies conceit about knowledge.
彼はいつも知ったかぶりをするから、みんなに嫌われている。
He's always acting like a know-it-all, so everyone dislikes him.
Literally 'to boast that one is smart'. A direct way to describe someone bragging about their intelligence.
彼女はいつも頭がいいと自慢している。
She's always boasting about how smart she is.
うぬぼれている is a general state of being conceited, while 天狗になっている often implies a temporary inflated ego due to recent success or praise. 天狗 is more colloquial and vivid.
彼は昔からうぬぼれている。
He has always been conceited.
優勝して天狗になっている。
He's gotten a big head after winning the championship.
Direct translations like '自負している' (jifu shite iru) are not natural for 'be conceited'. 自負 means 'pride' in a positive sense, not arrogance. Use うぬぼれている or 思い上がっている instead.