おこがましい

お

こ

が

ま

し

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

presumptuous; impertinent; cheeky

usually written using kana alone

Describes someone acting above their station or making an unwarranted remark; often used to criticize one's own or another's overstepping.

彼かれにアドバイスするなんておこがましいと思おもった。
I thought it would be presumptuous of me to give him advice.

おこがましいお願ねがいですが、もう一いち度どチャンスをいただけませんか。

This may be an impertinent request, but could you give me one more chance?

2

i-adjective

ridiculous; laughable; absurd

usually written using kana alone

Used when someone's claim or action is so out of line that it becomes laughable; often overlaps with the presumptuous sense but emphasizes the absurdity.

あの新しん人じんが社しゃ長ちょうになろうなんておこがましい話はなしだ。
It's ridiculous for that new employee to think he could become the president.

Written forms

おこがましいUsage97%
Standard kana spelling; the word is almost always written in kana.
烏お滸こがましいUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using ateji; not recommended for learners.
痴おこがましいUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using ateji; not recommended for learners.

Kanji

烏crow, raven
滸vicinity
痴stupid, foolish

Similar words

生なま意い気き
生意気 is more about being cheeky or impertinent, often used for younger people acting too big for their boots, while おこがましい focuses on overstepping one's place or making presumptuous claims.
図ずう々ずうしい
図々しい means shameless or brazen, implying a lack of embarrassment, whereas おこがましい implies an inappropriate assumption of authority or right.

Etymology

Derived from the classical adjective 烏滸がまし (おこがまし), itself from 烏滸 (おこ, 'foolishness') + がまし (suffix meaning 'seems like'). The kanji 烏滸 are ateji.