もったいぶる

も

っ

た

い

ぶ

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

put on airs; act self-important; be pretentious

usually written using kana alone

Describes someone behaving in a pompous or affectedly grand manner, often to impress others or assert status.

彼かれはいつももったいぶって話はなす。
He always speaks in a pompous way.

もったい

ぶら

ず

に

、

はっきり

言い

っ

て

ください

。

Please say it clearly without putting on airs.

Written forms

勿もっ体たいぶる
Kanji form using 勿体; rarely used.
勿もっ体たい振ぶる
rarely-used kanji form
Kanji form using 振る; rarely used.

Kanji

勿not, must not, do not
体body, substance, object
振shake, wave, wag

Similar words

気き取どる
気取る also means 'to put on airs' but often implies a more stylish or affectedly refined manner, while もったいぶる emphasizes self-importance and pomposity.
威い張ばる
威張る means 'to be bossy' or 'to throw one's weight around,' focusing on domineering behavior, whereas もったいぶる is more about acting grand and pretentious.

Etymology

Derived from 勿体 (もったい, 'importance' or 'dignity') + 振る (ぶる, 'to behave as if'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since the Edo period to describe affected self-importance.