noun
affectation; pretension; showing off
Refers to an unnatural, self-conscious display of knowledge, talent, or style, often with a negative connotation of trying too hard to impress.
彼の話し方にはてらいが感じられない。
There is no affectation in the way he speaks.
てらいのない文章が好きだ。
I like writing that is free of pretension.
気取り implies putting on airs or acting in a self-important manner, while てらい focuses more on a showy, affected display of one's own qualities.
見栄 is about vanity or wanting to look good in front of others, often related to appearance or status; てらい is more about pretentiousness in expression or behavior.
Derived from the verb 衒う (てらう), meaning 'to show off' or 'to make a display of'. The noun form てらい carries the same core meaning of affectation.