noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
pseudo-intellectual
Derogatory term for someone who pretends to be intellectual or knowledgeable but lacks real substance. Often used in casual or critical contexts.
He's a pseudo-intellectual who just uses big words without any real substance.
That pseudo-intellectual critic always says things that miss the point.
Standard kanji-katakana mixed spelling.
Full katakana spelling; often used for emphasis or in informal contexts.
Compound of 似非 (ese, 'pseudo-') and インテリ (interi, from English 'intellectual' or Russian 'intelligentsiya'). The exact origin of 似非 is uncertain, but it has been used since the Edo period to mean 'false' or 'pretended'.