Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
見栄 (みえ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
栄え
を
張は
っ
て
高こう
級きゅう
車しゃ
を
買か
っ
た
。
He bought a luxury car to show off.
Usage patterns 見み 栄え で 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 to do something out of vanity or for show
I ended up buying an expensive suit just for show.
見み 得え を 切き る to strike a dramatic kabuki-style pose
The actor struck a dramatic pose on stage.
見み 栄え を 捨す てる to abandon one's vanity or pride
I set aside my pride and asked for help.
Expressions 見み 栄え を 張は る show off; put on airs; be pretentious Kanji 栄 flourish, prosperity, honor Related words 虚栄 is a more formal, abstract term for vanity, while 見栄 focuses on the outward show and saving face in everyday social situations.
体裁 emphasizes keeping up a proper form or front, whereas 見栄 emphasizes actively showing off or looking impressive.
面子 focuses on one's reputation or standing among others, while 見栄 is about the visible display of status or success itself.
見栄 focuses on outward appearance and showing off to others, while 虚栄心 is the broader inner desire for admiration or an inflated self-image.
見栄 refers to vanity or trying to look good in others' eyes, whereas 伊達 in its 'for show' sense overlaps but can also carry a positive nuance of genuine elegance.
Opposites 謙遜 is modest, self-effacing behavior, the opposite of the showy, image-conscious behavior described by 見栄.
Don't confuse with 見栄 is the abstract noun for vanity or putting on a show, while 見栄っ張り refers specifically to a person who habitually does this.
見栄 means vanity or putting on airs to impress others, while 見栄え simply describes how attractive something looks, so learners should not confuse the two despite the similar spelling.
Word family vain person; show-off; ostentatious person
vain person; show-off; dandy
be pretentious; put on airs; show off
Written forms 見み 栄え Usage 60%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Standard kanji spelling for 'appearances' and 'vanity'. Ateji reading.
見み え Usage 19%
Alternate spelling for the 'appearances' sense, less common than 見栄.
見み 得え Usage 12%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Kabuki term for a dramatic pose. Ateji reading.
Etymology Derived from the verb 見える (to be seen, to look). The kanji 栄 (glory, flourish) is ateji, chosen for its positive connotation related to outward appearance.
