わがまま・我儘・我が儘・我がまま・我侭・我が侭wagamama[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. na-adjective, nounselfish; egoist
2. na-adjective, nounself-indulgent; wilful; willful
   あの子こを甘あまやかしてはいけません。とてもわがままになりますよ。↗

   You shouldn't indulge that child. It will make him very selfish.

• Synonym気ままきままNeutralSuggests doing as one pleases, free of constraints, as in 「気ままな一人旅」. Often carries a positive sense of freedom, while 「我儘」 is disapproving.
• Synonym勝手かってNeutralCovers acting arbitrarily or without permission, as in 「勝手に決める」, and is very common in speech. It also means kitchen or circumstances — senses 「我儘」 does not have.
• Synonym身勝手みがってNeutralFocuses on looking only to one's own convenience, as in 「身勝手な行動」. Its disapproving force is stronger than that of 「我儘」.
• Synonym自分勝手じぶんかってNeutralStresses selfishness and disregard for others. Common in speech and clearly negative; roughly interchangeable with 「我儘」.
• Synonym得手勝手えてかってWrittenWritten style: acting or speaking purely to suit one's own convenience. Few examples of use; in daily speech say 「自分勝手」 or 「我儘」.
• Synonym手前勝手てまえがってWrittenWritten style: thinking only of oneself and ignoring others. Few examples; everyday speech prefers 「身勝手」 or 「自分勝手」.
• Synonym自由勝手じゆうかってNeutralUnrestrained, doing just as one pleases. Said of people's words and deeds it can carry a negative nuance of acting without permission, and is used less than 「我儘」.
• Related野放図のほうずNeutralSuggests brazen, unrestrained behavior, as in 「野放図な開発」. The nuance leans toward excess and lack of restraint.
• Related我が強いががつよいNeutralDescribes someone who won't bend their own opinions or listen to others. The point is a stubborn, headstrong character, not necessarily selfishness.
• RelatedエゴイスティックWrittenA loanword for egoistic, self-centered behavior, leaning toward written commentary. 「我儘」 is more everyday and speaks of concrete words and actions.
• Related利己的りこてきWrittenRefers to acting with one's own interests first; the opposite of 「利他的」. Written and rational in tone, suited to sober evaluation.
• Related御都合主義ごつごうしゅぎWrittenOpportunism: going whichever way suits one at the moment. The emphasis is on having no fixed stance, not on self-indulgence.
• RelatedオポチュニズムWrittenA loanword for opportunism, seen mostly in political commentary.
• Antonym遠慮えんりょNeutralHolding back and acting politely out of consideration for others, as in 「遠慮なく」. It is the opposite of the self-centered 「我儘」.
• Antonym慎みつつしみWrittenAntonym in written style: discretion and self-restraint in one's conduct, as in 「慎みがない」. It stands opposite the self-indulgent 「我儘」.

Use 「我儘」 for pushing through what you want without regard for others. To stress selfishness, say 「身勝手」 or 「自分勝手」; for carefree freedom, 「気まま」; for rational, written evaluation, 「利己的」. The opposite is 「遠慮」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 他人たにんのことを考かんがえず、自分じぶんのしたいことを押し通おしとおすこと。また、そのさま。