Translation guide
Describes a person or statement that shows excessive pride and self-satisfaction. Japanese has several adjectives and verbs to express boastfulness, ranging from mild to strongly negative.
To say someone is boastful or likes to brag about their achievements, possessions, or abilities.
An adjective meaning 'proud' or 'boastful' in a way that shows off. Often used to describe someone's attitude or expression.
To say something in a boastful way, or to describe a statement as boastful.
Literally 'to do a boastful story'. A common phrase for bragging or telling boastful tales.
彼はいつも自慢話をして、周りをうんざりさせる。
He always tells boastful stories and annoys everyone around him.
To express that someone is boastful regarding a particular achievement, possession, or quality.
The verb '自慢する' means 'to boast about' or 'to be proud of' something. Attach the object with を.
彼は自分の学歴を自慢している。
He is boastful about his academic background.
There is no single Japanese adjective that perfectly matches 'boastful' in all contexts. Instead, use phrases like 自慢げ (proud/boastful attitude) or verbs like 自慢する (to boast). Direct translations like 'boastful person' as '自慢的な人' are unnatural.
自慢 (boasting) often implies showing off to others, while 誇り (pride) can be a quiet, internal sense of satisfaction. Using 誇りに思う (to feel proud) is less boastful than 自慢する.
彼は自慢げに新しい車を見せびらかした。
He boastfully showed off his new car.
A noun/adjective meaning 'fond of boasting'. Describes a person who habitually brags.
彼女は自慢好きで、いつも自分の成功を話す。
She is boastful and always talks about her successes.
A noun meaning 'braggart' or 'boaster', often implying exaggeration or lying. More colloquial.
あの人はほら吹きだから、話を真に受けない方がいい。
That person is a boaster, so you shouldn't take his stories seriously.
A formal adjective meaning 'haughty' or 'arrogant', often with a negative connotation of looking down on others.
彼の高慢な態度はみんなを不快にさせた。
His boastful attitude made everyone uncomfortable.
To say something in a proud, boastful manner. '誇らしげ' means 'proudly' or 'triumphantly'.
彼は誇らしげに自分の昇進を発表した。
He boastfully announced his promotion.
A formal, literary expression meaning 'to talk big' or 'to boast extravagantly'. Often used in written language.
彼は大言壮語するが、実際には何も成し遂げていない。
He talks boastfully, but in reality he hasn't achieved anything.
She boasts about her cooking skills.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'to be boastful about' or 'to be stuck up about' something. Often used for status or abilities.
彼は自分の家柄を鼻にかけている。
He is boastful about his family background.