Translation guide
Describes someone who says one thing but does another, or whose actions contradict their stated beliefs. Japanese has several words for this, but the most common and natural is 偽善者 (gizensha).
A person who pretends to have virtues, morals, or beliefs that they do not actually possess.
Someone who behaves differently depending on the situation or audience, often deceitfully.
A person who criticizes others for faults they themselves have, often with a sense of moral superiority.
Idiom meaning 'to put one's own issues on the shelf', i.e., to ignore one's own faults while criticizing others. Very common in everyday speech.
彼はいつも自分のことは棚に上げて人を批判する。
He always criticizes others while ignoring his own faults.
偽善者 is the everyday word for hypocrite. 偽君子 is more formal and often implies a calculated pretense of virtue, closer to 'sanctimonious hypocrite'. In most situations, 偽善者 is sufficient.
Avoid literal translations like 'ハイポクリット'. While understood by some, it sounds unnatural. Use the Japanese terms above.
He is a hypocrite.
偽善者にはなりたくない。
I don't want to be a hypocrite.
A more literary or formal term for a hypocrite, especially one who feigns moral superiority. Often used in written or intellectual contexts.
彼は偽君子に過ぎない。
He is nothing but a hypocrite.
Literally 'a person who is only lip service'. Emphasizes the gap between words and actions. More colloquial than 偽善者.
あの人は口先だけだ。
That person is all talk.
Literally 'two-tongued'. Refers to someone who says contradictory things to different people. Strongly negative.
彼は二枚舌を使う。
He speaks with a forked tongue.
Describes a person who has a hidden side; two-faced. Often used as 'あの人は裏表がある'.
彼女は裏表がない。
She is straightforward (not two-faced).
Verb meaning 'to act like a hypocrite' or 'to be self-righteous'. Often used when someone is being preachy.
偽善者ぶるのはやめて。
Stop being so self-righteous.