Describes a feeling of pride or triumph, often with a sense of openness or expansiveness. Less common than 誇らしい (ほこらしい) in modern Japanese.
He accepted the award with a proud feeling.
Hearing the news, she smiled proudly.
Kana spelling is sometimes used, especially in casual or literary contexts.
Derived from the stem 誇 (ほこ) of the verb 誇る (ほこる, 'to be proud') plus the adjectival suffix らか, which forms adjectives expressing a state or quality. The exact historical development is uncertain.