Translation guide
The delusional belief that one is extremely powerful, important, or grandiose. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific clinical terms, descriptive phrases, and related personality trait words.
The psychiatric symptom of having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance, power, or identity.
The standard clinical term for 'delusion of grandeur' or 'megalomania'. Used in medical and psychological contexts.
彼は誇大妄想に陥っている。
He is suffering from megalomania.
Literally 'megalomania madness', a more emphatic term for the condition, sometimes used in non-clinical contexts.
彼の行動は誇大妄想狂のようだ。
His behavior is like that of a megalomaniac.
Direct loanword from English, used occasionally in psychological literature or pop culture, but not common in everyday speech.
メガロマニアは精神疾患の一種です。
Megalomania is a type of mental illness.
Describing a person who acts as if they are superior, all-powerful, or destined for greatness, often in everyday or literary contexts.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'to be convinced of one's own greatness'. Natural way to describe megalomaniacal tendencies without clinical terminology.
彼は自分を偉大だと思い込んでいる。
He is convinced of his own greatness.
Literally 'self-enlargement', a psychological term for inflated self-image. Can be used to describe megalomania as a personality trait.
彼の自己肥大的な態度にはうんざりする。
I'm fed up with his megalomaniacal attitude.
Adjective meaning 'self-righteous' or 'smug', often used for someone who believes their own views are absolutely correct, a common facet of megalomania.
Means 'arrogant' or 'haughty'. While not a direct translation, it captures the overbearing pride often associated with megalomania.
The drive to pursue unrealistically large-scale plans or to dominate others, often seen in leaders or villains.
Means 'to be possessed by megalomania'. Used when someone is obsessed with grandiose schemes.
その独裁者は誇大妄想にとりつかれていた。
The dictator was possessed by megalomania.
Literally 'big furoshiki (wrapping cloth)', idiom meaning 'grandiose talk' or 'big plans' that are unlikely to be realized. Often used for megalomaniacal boasting.
彼はまた大風呂敷を広げている。
He's bragging about his grandiose plans again.
Means 'ambition', but when used in context of excessive or ruthless ambition, it can imply megalomania. Often paired with adjectives like 異常な (abnormal) or 病的な (pathological).
誇大妄想 is a clinical term for delusions of grandeur, while 傲慢 describes a personality trait of arrogance. Use 誇大妄想 for actual psychiatric symptoms, and 傲慢 for everyday arrogance.
彼は誇大妄想の治療を受けている。
He is receiving treatment for megalomania.
彼の傲慢さには誰もが腹を立てた。
Everyone was angered by his arrogance.
The English word 'megalomania' is often used loosely for arrogance or power-hunger. In Japanese, 誇大妄想 is strictly clinical. For casual use, describe the behavior with phrases like 自分を過大評価する (overestimate oneself) or 権力に執着する (obsessed with power).
彼の独善的な考え方には我慢できない。
I can't stand his self-righteous way of thinking.
彼の傲慢な態度は周囲を不快にさせる。
His arrogant attitude makes those around him uncomfortable.
He is consumed by pathological ambition.