Translation guide
The feeling or attitude that you are more important than other people. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns, adjectives, and set phrases that describe arrogance, conceit, or an inflated sense of self-worth.
Describing a person's inflated sense of their own importance or superiority.
A common noun meaning conceit or vanity. Often used to describe someone who is full of themselves.
彼は自惚れが強い。
He is very conceited.
自惚れを捨てなさい。
Get rid of your self-importance.
A noun meaning conceit or arrogance, implying that someone thinks too highly of themselves.
彼の思い上がりには呆れる。
I'm disgusted by his self-importance.
A formal noun or na-adjective meaning arrogance or haughtiness. Stronger and more negative than 自惚れ.
彼の傲慢な態度が嫌いだ。
I hate his arrogant attitude.
The verb form of 自惚れ, meaning to be conceited or to have a swollen head.
彼は自分の才能にうぬぼれている。
He is conceited about his talent.
An idiomatic phrase meaning to get a big head or become conceited, literally 'to become a tengu' (a mythical creature with a long nose).
成功して天狗になっている。
He's gotten a big head since his success.
Describing behavior that shows an inflated sense of importance.
A common phrase meaning to act important or superior. 偉そう is a na-adjective meaning 'self-important'.
彼はいつも偉そうにしている。
He always acts self-important.
偉そうな口をきくな。
Don't talk so self-importantly.
A verb meaning to be bossy, arrogant, or to throw one's weight around. Often used for someone who acts superior.
彼は部下に威張っている。
He acts self-important toward his subordinates.
An idiomatic phrase meaning to swagger or strut around with an air of self-importance, literally 'to cut the wind with one's shoulders'.
彼は昇進して肩で風を切って歩いている。
He's strutting around self-importantly since his promotion.
Describing the internal feeling of being more important than others.
A direct translation meaning 'sense of self-importance'. Used in psychological or formal contexts.
自己重要感が強い人は批判に弱い。
People with a strong sense of self-importance are vulnerable to criticism.
A phrase meaning to make oneself look big or important, often used when someone is trying to impress others.
彼はいつも自分を大きく見せようとする。
He always tries to make himself seem important.
自惚れ (うぬぼれ) is more about vanity and being full of oneself, often based on a specific trait like talent or looks. 傲慢 (ごうまん) is a stronger, more negative term for arrogance and haughtiness, often implying a disregard for others. 傲慢 is more formal and literary.
彼は頭がいいと自惚れている。
He is conceited about his intelligence.
傲慢な態度で人を見下す。
He looks down on people with an arrogant attitude.
While 自己重要感 is a direct translation, it sounds technical and is not used in everyday conversation. For most situations, use 自惚れ, 思い上がり, or 偉そうにする instead.