図ずう々ずうしい

ず

う

ず

う

し

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

shameless; brazen; impudent; cheeky

Describes a person or behavior that is audaciously forward, lacking proper shame or restraint. Often used critically for someone who acts without regard for others' feelings or social norms.

彼かれの図ずう々ずうしいお願ねがいには驚おどろいた。
I was surprised by his shameless request.

図ずう々ずうしいかもしれないけど、もう一ひとつください。

It might be cheeky of me, but could I have one more?

Written forms

図ずう々ずうしいUsage67%
Standard kanji spelling with the repetition mark 々.
ずうずうしいUsage32%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the kanji is not needed.
図ずう図ずうしいUsage<1%
Variant spelling without the repetition mark; less common but still used.

Kanji

図map, drawing, plan

Similar words

厚あつかましい
Similar in meaning, but 厚かましい often implies a more persistent, thick-skinned boldness, while 図々しい emphasizes a brazen lack of shame in a particular act or attitude.
生なま意い気き
生意気 is used for impertinence or cheekiness, especially from someone younger or less experienced, whereas 図々しい is about shameless audacity regardless of age or status.

Etymology

Derived from the reduplicated mimetic element ずうずう (onomatopoeic for being brazen or thick-skinned) plus the adjectival suffix しい. The kanji 図 (plan, diagram) is used for its sound, not its meaning.