図々しい

• Reading: ずうずうしい
• Romaji: zūzūshii
• Kanji breakdown: 図 (plan/scheme) doubled + しい (adjective suffix) → brazenly scheming or pushing one's luck
• Pronunciation: /dzɯː.dzɯː.ɕiː/

Meaning

Shameless, brazen, or thick-skinned — describes someone who pushes boundaries without embarrassment.

A 図々しい person is someone who makes bold, unreasonable demands without any sense of shame or social awareness. They might invite themselves to events, ask for favours from near-strangers, or take more than their share without hesitation. In a culture that highly values modesty and restraint, being called 図々しい is a strong criticism. However, the word can also be used with grudging admiration — sometimes being 図々しい gets results.

Examples

1. 初対面でお金貸してとか図々しいにもほどがある。 Asking to borrow money from someone you just met is beyond shameless.
2. 図々しいお願いなんだけどちょっと手伝ってくれない？ I know this is a bold ask, but could you help me out a bit?
3. あの人図々しくて毎回人の分まで持って帰るんだよ。 That person is so shameless — they take extra servings meant for other people every single time.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, complaints, social commentary, everyday conversation

Tone: critical, exasperated, sometimes grudgingly impressed

Do Say

• 図々しいって分かってるけどお願いしていい？ (I know this is brazen, but can I ask a favour?)
• あの人の図々しさは天才的だよ。 (That person's shamelessness is next-level.)

Don't Say

• 年上の人に直接「図々しいですね」は喧嘩になる (Saying 'you're shameless' directly to an elder will start a conflict)

Common Mistakes

• Thinking 図々しい is always purely negative — it can carry grudging admiration for someone who boldly gets what they want

Origin & History

Written 図々しい, where 図 (plan/scheme) is reduplicated with the adjective suffix しい. The word implies someone who is calculating or presumptuous. It has been part of standard Japanese for a long time and is used across all registers from casual to semi-formal.

Cultural Context

Era: Established standard Japanese adjective, used for centuries

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. In a culture that values 遠慮 (reserve/modesty), being 図々しい stands out starkly.