Translation guide
A person who is excessively self-centered, vain, or has narcissistic personality traits. In Japanese, there are direct loanwords, clinical terms, and descriptive phrases.
Describing someone who is vain, self-absorbed, or loves themselves too much in everyday conversation.
The most common and direct loanword for 'narcissist'. Used in casual and semi-formal contexts. It can sound slightly less clinical than English 'narcissist' and is often used for someone who is vain or self-admiring.
He's a real narcissist, isn't he?
That narcissist is always looking in the mirror.
Literally 'a person with strong self-love'. A more descriptive and slightly formal way to refer to a narcissist without using the loanword.
People with strong self-love don't consider others' feelings.
A traditional Japanese term for a conceited or vain person. It implies excessive pride and self-admiration, similar to 'narcissist' in a colloquial sense.
He's a narcissist, always talking about himself.
A less common variant of the loanword, closer to the English pronunciation. Sometimes used in psychological contexts, but ナルシスト is far more common.
He is a narcissist with narcissistic personality disorder.
Referring to someone with narcissistic personality disorder or in a psychological context.
The clinical term for a person with narcissistic personality disorder. Used in medical or formal discussions.
He was diagnosed as a person with narcissistic personality disorder.
An older or alternative clinical term, literally 'person with self-love personality disorder'. Still understood but less common than the パーソナリティ障害 version.
While 自己愛 (self-love) is a component, the word 自己愛者 is not commonly used. Stick to ナルシスト or descriptive phrases.
He is a self-love person. (unnatural)
He is a narcissist.
ナルシスト is a modern loanword and can be used lightly. うぬぼれ屋 is a traditional Japanese word that sounds more colloquial and slightly old-fashioned. Both imply vanity, but ナルシスト may carry a slightly more psychological nuance.
Narcissists often post selfies on social media.
He's such a narcissist; he can't stop talking about himself.
Narcissists often lack empathy.
Narcissists lack empathy.
That narcissist is always bragging about his success.