Translation guide
How to express the idea of someone making an effort to seem intelligent or knowledgeable, often with a negative connotation of pretentiousness or showing off.
To describe someone who is trying to look intelligent or knowledgeable, often in an annoying or pretentious way.
A common phrase meaning to act like you know something when you don't, or to pretend to be knowledgeable. It carries a negative nuance of being a know-it-all.
彼はいつも知ったかぶりをして、みんなに嫌われている。
He always tries to appear smart and is disliked by everyone.
A verb meaning to act smart or clever. Often used when someone is being pretentious or putting on airs of intelligence.
彼女は会議で利口ぶって難しい言葉を使う。
She tries to appear smart in meetings by using difficult words.
A more literal phrase meaning 'to behave as if smart'. It is neutral in tone but can imply pretense depending on context.
彼は面接で賢そうに振る舞おうとした。
He tried to appear smart in the interview.
A slangy verb meaning to act like an intellectual. It often has a mocking tone, used for someone who pretends to be cultured or well-read.
あの人はいつもインテリぶって難しい本の話をする。
That person always tries to appear smart by talking about difficult books.
To describe someone who uses complex vocabulary or jargon unnecessarily to impress others.
Literally 'wants to use difficult words'. It describes the behavior of someone who intentionally uses complex language to appear smart.
彼はいつも難しい言葉を使いたがるけど、意味をわかっていないことも多い。
He always tries to use difficult words to appear smart, but often doesn't understand their meaning.
A phrase meaning to line up foreign (usually English) words. It implies someone is using loanwords to sound sophisticated or knowledgeable.
彼の説明は横文字を並べているだけで、中身がない。
His explanation is just a bunch of fancy foreign words with no substance.
To describe someone who adopts a certain look or demeanor to seem intelligent, like wearing glasses or acting serious.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'to try to look smart'. It can refer to any effort to appear intelligent, including appearance or behavior.
彼はメガネをかけて賢く見せようとしている。
He's wearing glasses to try to appear smart.
Means 'to act as if one is smart'. It focuses on behavior rather than just words.
彼女はパーティーで頭が良さそうに振る舞っていた。
She was acting like she was smart at the party.
To describe someone who not only tries to appear smart but actively boasts about their knowledge or intellect.
Means 'to flaunt one's knowledge'. It implies showing off what you know in an arrogant manner.
彼はいつも知識をひけらかして、周りをうんざりさせる。
He always shows off his knowledge and annoys everyone around him.
A more formal phrase meaning 'to display one's intellect'. It can be used in written or formal contexts.
彼のスピーチは知性を誇示するものだった。
His speech was an attempt to show off his intellect.
Directly translating 'try to appear smart' as 「賢く見えるように試みる」 is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural. Use the idiomatic expressions above instead.
「知ったかぶりをする」 specifically means pretending to know something you don't, while 「利口ぶる」 is broader and can mean acting smart in general. 「知ったかぶり」 is more common in everyday speech.