大袈裟

• Reading: おおげさ
• Romaji: oogesa
• Kanji breakdown: 大 (oo) — large, great | 袈裟 (kesa) — Buddhist stole (monk's robe)
• Pronunciation: /oː.ɡe.sa/

Meaning

Exaggerated; overdone; bombastic; grandiose. Describes a reaction, claim, or expression that is blown out of proportion.

A na-adjective used to criticise or gently mock exaggeration in expression, reaction, or scale. It can describe speech (大袈裟な表現 — bombastic language), behaviour (大袈裟に驚く — to over-react), or physical things (大袈裟な装置 — an unnecessarily elaborate contraption). Unlike 誇張 (exaggeration as a literary technique), 大袈裟 carries a conversational, often dismissive nuance.

Examples

1. 少し転んだだけなのに、大袈裟に痛がって周囲を心配させた。 He only tripped slightly, yet he made such an exaggerated show of pain that everyone around him grew worried.
2. 彼の大袈裟な表現には慣れているが、言いたいことは伝わってくる。 I'm used to his bombastic expressions, but the point he's trying to make still comes across.
3. マスコミの大袈裟な報道が、不必要な恐怖を市民の間に広めることがある。 Sensationalist media coverage can sometimes spread unnecessary fear among the public.

Usage Guide

Context: criticism, media, daily conversation, self-expression

Tone: dismissive

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (oo — large, great) and 袈裟 (kesa — Buddhist priest's robe). The image derives from the elaborate, oversize robes worn by monks, extended metaphorically to anything disproportionately grand.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal