僭せん上じょう

also: せんしょう

せ

ん

じょ

う

Meanings

noun, na-adjective

audacity; forwardness; effrontery; impertinence

rare term

Rare literary term for presumptuous or overstepping behavior; not used in everyday conversation.

彼かれの僭せん上じょうな態たい度どには皆みなが眉まゆをひそめた。
Everyone frowned at his audacious attitude.
その発はつ言げんは僭せん上じょうも甚はなはだしい。
That remark is the height of impertinence.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

僭boastfully usurp
上above, up

Related words

厚あつかましい
Common everyday adjective for shameless or brazen behavior; 僭上 is a much rarer, more literary noun/na-adjective.
図ずう々ずうしい
Casual adjective for impudent or pushy behavior; 僭上 carries a more formal, old-fashioned tone.

Word family

僭せん上じょう越えっ権けん
overstepping one's authority; abuse of power; acting ultra vires

Written forms

僭上Usage55%
- せんじょう
  Rare kanji spelling; the reading せんじょう is standard for this form.
- せんしょう
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading variant; marked as out-dated kana usage.
せんじょうUsage45%
せんしょう
out-dated reading

Etymology

The kanji 僭 means 'usurp' or 'overstep', and 上 means 'above' or 'superior'. The compound literally suggests overstepping one's rank or position. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is now rare and literary.