Translation guide
The English word 'proud' covers a range of feelings from healthy self-respect to boastful arrogance. In Japanese, the appropriate expression depends heavily on the nuance: whether you are proud of an achievement, proud of someone else, expressing dignity, or describing haughty behavior.
Expressing a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction with something you have done or own, without arrogance.
A common, natural way to say you are proud of something. It conveys a deep, positive sense of pride.
自分の仕事を誇りに思っています。
I am proud of my work.
彼は自分の息子を誇りに思っている。
He is proud of his son.
Often used when talking about something you are proud of and want to show off or boast about a little. Can be used in phrases like 自慢の〜 (my prized ~).
Can sound boastful if used about oneself too much. 自慢話 (じまんばなし) means 'boasting story'.
これは私の自慢の車です。
This is my pride and joy, my car.
彼は料理の腕前を自慢している。
He is proud of his cooking skills.
Literally 'to puff out one's chest', meaning to be proud and confident, often about one's actions or identity.
胸を張って生きたい。
I want to live with pride.
Expressing that you feel proud of another person's accomplishments or qualities.
Works for being proud of others as well as yourself.
あなたのことを誇りに思うよ。
I'm proud of you.
An idiomatic expression meaning to be proud of someone, often a child or subordinate. Literally 'one's nose is high'.
息子が医者になって、私は鼻が高い。
I'm proud that my son became a doctor.
Used to describe someone you are proud of, like a family member.
自慢の娘です。
She's my daughter, and I'm proud of her.
Describing a person who has a strong sense of their own worth and refuses to be humiliated.
Describes someone who is dignified and has a strong sense of pride.
彼女は誇り高い人だ。
She is a proud person.
Refers to self-esteem or pride in oneself. Often used in phrases like 自尊心が高い (high self-esteem) or 自尊心を傷つける (hurt one's pride).
彼は自尊心が強い。
He has a strong sense of pride.
Describing someone who is overly proud, looking down on others.
Expressing that someone's pride prevents them from doing something.
Uses the loanword プライド (pride) to say someone is too proud to do something.
彼はプライドが高くて謝れない。
He is too proud to apologize.
Literally 'my pride won't allow it'. A more dramatic way to say you are too proud.
私の誇りが許さない。
My pride won't allow it.
誇り (ほこり) is a deeper, more dignified pride, while 自慢 (じまん) often implies showing off or boasting. Use 誇り for serious accomplishments and 自慢 for things you like to talk about proudly.
While あなたを誇りに思う is correct, it can sound heavy or formal. In casual contexts, simply saying すごいね！ (That's amazing!) or よくやった！ (Well done!) often conveys the same feeling more naturally.
彼女はプライドが高くて助けを求められない。
She is too proud to ask for help.
高慢な人は嫌われる。
Proud people are disliked.
He always talks in a proud manner.