Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
天狗になる (てんぐになる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ru)
get conceited ; become vain ; get stuck up
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression derived from the mythical tengu, who is often depicted as proud and arrogant. Used when someone becomes overconfident or full of themselves, often after success or praise.
See also: 天狗 (てんぐ)
成せい 功こう し て 天てん 狗ぐ に なら ない よう に 気き を つけ て 。
Be careful not to get a swollen head after your success.
Similar words 天てん 狗ぐ Refers to the mythical creature itself, while 天狗になる is the idiomatic verb phrase meaning 'to become conceited'.
うぬぼれる Also means 'to be conceited', but is a more general term without the mythical imagery.
Etymology From 天狗 (tengu, a mythical creature often portrayed as arrogant) + になる (to become). The phrase figuratively means 'to become like a tengu', i.e., to become conceited.
