Translation guide
A person who is excessively self-centered, vain, or has narcissistic personality traits. In Japanese, there are direct loanwords, clinical terms, and descriptive phrases.
Describing someone who is vain, self-absorbed, or loves themselves too much in everyday conversation.
The most common and direct loanword for 'narcissist'. Used in casual and semi-formal contexts. It can sound slightly less clinical than English 'narcissist' and is often used for someone who is vain or self-admiring.
Referring to someone with narcissistic personality disorder or in a psychological context.
The clinical term for a person with narcissistic personality disorder. Used in medical or formal discussions.
彼は自己愛性パーソナリティ障害の人だと診断された。
He was diagnosed as a person with narcissistic personality disorder.
While 自己愛 (self-love) is a component, the word 自己愛者 is not commonly used. Stick to ナルシスト or descriptive phrases.
✕ 彼は自己愛者だ。
He is a self-love person. (unnatural)
○ 彼はナルシストだ。
He is a narcissist.
ナルシスト is a modern loanword and can be used lightly. うぬぼれ屋 is a traditional Japanese word that sounds more colloquial and slightly old-fashioned. Both imply vanity, but ナルシスト may carry a slightly more psychological nuance.
彼は本当にナルシストで、自分の話ばかりしている。
He's such a narcissist; he can't stop talking about himself.
ナルシストは共感が欠如していることが多い。
Narcissists often lack empathy.
彼は本当にナルシストだね。
He's a real narcissist, isn't he?
あのナルシストは鏡ばかり見ている。
That narcissist is always looking in the mirror.
Literally 'a person with strong self-love'. A more descriptive and slightly formal way to refer to a narcissist without using the loanword.
自己愛が強い人は他人の気持ちを考えない。
People with strong self-love don't consider others' feelings.
A traditional Japanese term for a conceited or vain person. It implies excessive pride and self-admiration, similar to 'narcissist' in a colloquial sense.
彼はうぬぼれ屋で、自分の話ばかりする。
He's a narcissist, always talking about himself.
A less common variant of the loanword, closer to the English pronunciation. Sometimes used in psychological contexts, but ナルシスト is far more common.
彼は自己愛性パーソナリティ障害のナルシシストだ。
He is a narcissist with narcissistic personality disorder.
An older or alternative clinical term, literally 'person with self-love personality disorder'. Still understood but less common than the パーソナリティ障害 version.
自己愛性人格障害者は共感が欠如している。
Narcissists lack empathy.
Narcissists often post selfies on social media.
あのうぬぼれ屋は自分の成功を自慢してばかりだ。
That narcissist is always bragging about his success.
Narcissists often post selfies on social media.
あのうぬぼれ屋は自分の成功を自慢してばかりだ。
That narcissist is always bragging about his success.