How to say "arrogant" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 傲慢ごうまんna-adjective, nounThe most direct way to say someone is arrogant: a proud, condescending attitude that looks down on others. Typical for describing a boss, official, or expert who dismisses other people's opinions.
- 誇らしいほこらしいi-adjectiveDespite the gloss 'arrogant', this is usually a positive word: feeling proud, often of one's children, students, or achievements. Seldom the word you want for criticizing someone as arrogant.
- 横柄おうへいna-adjective, nounCovers the arrogant sense with an added tone of rudeness and insolence — someone who is pushy and disrespectful in manner, such as a customer or driver treating staff contemptuously.
- 高慢こうまんna-adjective, nounVery close to 傲慢: haughty and stuck-up, an attitude of considering oneself superior. Used of a person or their attitude; the gloss 'stuck-up' captures the look-down-on-others flavor.
- 野放図のほうずna-adjective, nounOnly marginally 'arrogant': its core senses are wild and unruly, describing growth or behavior that runs unchecked. For the arrogant sense it can suggest unrestrained self-assertion, but 傲慢 is usually the better choice.
For the negative 'arrogant' sense, 傲慢, 横柄, and 高慢 are the closest choices, with 横柄 the rudest; 「誇らしい」 is positive pride, and 野放図 mainly means wild or unruly.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 傲慢ごうまんhaughty
- 誇らしいほこらしいproud
- 横柄おうへいarrogant
- 高慢こうまんhaughty
- 野放図のほうずwild
- 大柄おおへいarrogant
- 横風おうふうarrogant
- 大風おおふうarrogant
- 高慢ちきこうまんちきarrogant
- 人を食ったひとをくったarrogant
- 人も無げひともなげarrogant
- 態度が大きいたいどがおおきいarrogant
- 僭越せんえつpresumptuous
- 不遜ふそんhaughty
- 尊大そんだいhaughty
- 傲然ごうぜんproud
- 傲岸ごうがんhaughty
- 倨傲きょごうhaughty
- 傲慢不遜ごうまんふそんhaughty
- 舌長したながboastful (language)
See also
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