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見栄張る (みえばる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

見み栄え張ばる

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru)

be pretentious; put on airs; show off

Describes someone trying to look better than they really are, often by exaggerating status, wealth, or ability. Slightly colloquial.

彼かれはいつも見み栄え張ばって高たかい服ふくを買かう。
He always puts on airs and buys expensive clothes.

見み

栄え

張ば

る

の

は

やめ

て

、

ありのまま

で

いこう

。

Stop being pretentious and let's just be ourselves.

Kanji

見see, hopes, chances
栄flourish, prosperity, honor
張counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread

Similar words

見み栄えを張はる
More common and slightly more formal expression with the same meaning. 見栄張る is a contracted, colloquial version.
格かっ好こうつける
Focuses on trying to look cool or stylish, often in a self-conscious way. 見栄張る is broader, covering any kind of pretentiousness.

Etymology

Contracted from the phrase 見栄を張る (みえをはる), literally 'to stretch one's appearance'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a natural colloquial shortening.