うぬぼれる

• Reading: うぬぼれる
• Romaji: unuboreru
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.nɯ.bo.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be conceited; to be vain; to be full of oneself. To have an exaggerated sense of one's own abilities.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb meaning to be excessively proud of oneself, often without justification. The kanji form 自惚れる exists but hiragana is more commonly used. Often appears as うぬぼれ (noun form) meaning conceit or vanity. Carries a negative connotation, implying the person's self-assessment is inflated.

Examples

1. 少し褒められただけでうぬぼれてはいけない。 Don't let a little praise go to your head.
2. 彼はうぬぼれが強くて周りから嫌われている。 He's so full of himself that people around him can't stand him.
3. 試験に受かったからといって、うぬぼれるのは早い。 Just because you passed the exam doesn't mean you should start getting cocky.

Usage Guide

Context: criticism, self-reflection, personality descriptions

Tone: critical

Origin & History

From 己 (unu, archaic form of 'self') and 惚れる (to fall in love with), literally meaning 'to fall in love with oneself.' The self-referential etymology perfectly captures the meaning of narcissistic self-admiration.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal