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わがまま Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
na-adjective, noun
selfish ; willful ; self-indulgent
usually written using kana alone
Describes a person or behavior that insists on one's own way without regard for others. Sense 2 (archaic) overlaps heavily with modern usage; the archaic label may reflect older dictionary treatment rather than a distinct meaning.
Please don't be so demanding.
Written forms わがまま Usage 69%
Kana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
ワガママ Usage 11%
我わが 儘まま Usage 8%
Alternate kanji spelling without が; less common than 我が儘.
我わ が 儘まま Usage 5%
Common kanji spelling with okurigana; 我儘 is also seen.
我わ がまま Usage 3%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; rarely used.
我わが 侭まま Usage 3%
Rare kanji variant using 侭.
我わ が 侭まま Usage 1%
Rare mixed kanji variant with 侭.
Similar words 自じ 分ぶん 勝かっ 手て Similar meaning but more explicitly 'self-centered' or 'doing as one pleases'; わがまま is broader and more common in everyday speech.
利り 己こ 的てき More formal and analytical, meaning 'egoistic' or 'self-interested'; わがまま is more about personal demands and childishness.
Etymology From 我 (wa, 'I, oneself') + 儘 (mama, 'as one likes, at will'). The reading わがまま is a compound of 我が (waga, 'my') and まま (mama).