Translation guide
A person who has recently risen to wealth, power, or importance but is seen as arrogant, presumptuous, or lacking the proper background. Japanese expressions focus on sudden success, lack of refinement, or social climbing.
Describe someone who has recently gained status and acts presumptuously or arrogantly.
A person who has risen from a low position to wealth or power, often with a negative nuance of being uncultured or pushy. Commonly used in social criticism.
He's an upstart and acts all high and mighty.
The act of rising in status or the person who has done so. Can be used attributively, e.g., 成り上がりの政治家 (upstart politician).
An upstart entrepreneur built a mansion.
Specifically a nouveau riche person; someone who has suddenly become wealthy but lacks taste or class. Stronger emphasis on money and vulgarity.
The nouveau riche decor is too flashy.
Literally 'newly formed star', a somewhat dated term for an upstart or parvenu. Rare in modern conversation.
He was mocked as an upstart singer.
Refer to a young or inexperienced person who behaves too confidently or disrespectfully, often in a workplace or social setting.
A cheeky young upstart. 生意気 means impertinent or cocky, and 若造 is a derogatory term for a young man. Very common in spoken Japanese.
The cheeky upstart talked back to his senior.
A slightly more emphatic version, implying the person is young and annoyingly confident. 小生意気 adds a nuance of 'little upstart'.
Literally 'green two-years-old', an old-fashioned term for an inexperienced, presumptuous youth. Often used in period dramas or by older speakers.
Describe someone who aggressively seeks higher social status, often by associating with influential people.
Same as above; also covers the social climbing aspect. The context usually makes the meaning clear.
She's an upstart who only hangs out with celebrities.
A person with strong ambition to rise in the world. More neutral than 'upstart', but can imply pushiness depending on tone.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches all nuances of 'upstart'. Choose based on whether you emphasize arrogance, new wealth, youth, or social climbing. 成り上がり者 is the safest general term.
upstart (general)
成り上がり者 focuses on the rise in status and the person's attitude, while 成金 specifically highlights sudden wealth and lack of taste. Use 成金 for 'nouveau riche' and 成り上がり者 for a broader 'upstart'.
A 成金 is rich but has no class.
An 成り上がり者 becomes arrogant when they gain power.
What a little upstart, even though he's still a newbie.
Don't talk so big, you young upstart.
He's an upstart who sucks up to the boss.
Upward mobility orientation; a sociological term. Can be used to describe an upstart mentality, but is more analytical.
His upstart ambition sometimes makes others uncomfortable.