卑ひ下げも自じ慢まんのうち

expression

too much humility is pride; taking pride in one's humility is a form of bragging

Proverb warning that excessive self-deprecation can be a subtle way of seeking praise or showing off one's modesty.

• 彼かれはいつも自じ分ぶんを卑ひ下げするけど、あれは卑ひ下げも自じ慢まんのうちだよ。

  He's always putting himself down, but that's a case of 'too much humility is pride.'

• 「私わたしなんてまだまだです」と言いいながら、実じつは自じ慢まんしたいだけかもしれない。卑ひ下げも自じ慢まんのうちというからね。

  Saying 'I'm still not good enough' might actually be a way of bragging. As they say, humility can be a form of pride.