専横・擅横|せんおうsen'ou[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
専横専横 is the more common kanji-only form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when writing this word.
擅横擅横 is a rarely used kanji variant of 専横; beginners will seldom encounter it and should generally choose 専横 instead.
Definitions
- noun, na-adjectivearbitrariness; despotism; high-handedness; tyranny
Conjugation
| Plain form | 専横（せんおう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 専横です（せんおうです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 専横ではない（せんおうではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 専横ではありません（せんおうではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 専横だった（せんおうだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 専横ではなかった（せんおうではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 専横で（せんおうで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 専横に（せんおうに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 専横なら（せんおうなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related図々しいずうずうしいNeutralCheeky and unapologetic; centers on shameless personal manners and does not imply abusing power. Neutral register.
- Related傍若無人ぼうじゃくぶじんNeutralActing as if no one were around; stresses disregard for others, and the person need not hold power. Neutral register.
- Related傲慢ごうまんNeutralConceited and dismissive of others; stresses character and attitude, while 「専横」 stresses acting arbitrarily and having one's own way. Neutral register.
- Related不埒ふらちWrittenWritten/formal prose. Suggests defying morals or rules, outrageous conduct; often used in scolding, as in 「不埒な輩」.
- Related僭越せんえつNeutralOverstepping one's rank or position; often self-deprecating, as in 「僭越ながら」. Presumptuous but not necessarily domineering. Neutral register.
- RelatedふてぶてしいNeutralBrazen and unrepentant; mostly describes an attitude or expression. Neutral register.
- Related不遜ふそんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Arrogant and lacking humility; stresses the attitude and does not involve abusing power.
- Related暴慢ぼうまんWrittenRough and overbearing; written/formal prose and very rarely used.
- Related驕慢きょうまんWrittenHaughty and proud; found mainly in Buddhist scriptures or classical texts, rarely in modern usage.
- Antonym謙虚けんきょNeutralModest and free of conceit; the opposite of the domineering 「専横」. Neutral register.
- Antonym従順じゅうじゅんNeutralObedient and docile, doing as one is told; the opposite of the willful 「専横」. Neutral register.
Use 「専横」 for domineering, arbitrary behavior — usually by someone in power, but also for an ordinary person acting high-handedly. For arrogance of attitude pick 「傲慢」, for ignoring those around you 「傍若無人」, and for cheeky shamelessness 「図々しい」. 「僭越ながら」 is a humble set phrase, not an accusation of tyranny.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
