Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 誇らしい | hokorashii | [ho̞ko̞ɾa̠ɕiː] (narrow) |
| 自慢の | jiman no |
In Japanese, the choice of word for 'proud' depends on whether the focus is on your internal emotional state or an external attribute. Use 誇らしい when describing your own emotional state of feeling honored or gratified by a situation. Use 自慢の when you want to describe a person or object as being your 'pride and joy' or something you are proud to possess.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 自慢の is formed by the noun 自慢 (boasting/pride) and the particle の (no), functioning as an adjectival phrase to modify a noun.
Which one should you use?
誇らしい is used to describe an internal feeling of pride or honor, often regarding an achievement or a noble quality. In contrast, 自慢の is used as an adjective to describe a person or thing that is a source of pride or something one likes to show off.
How does it change in a sentence?
誇らしい is an i-adjective, meaning it can be modified by changing the ending for different grammatical functions. 自慢の functions as an adjectival phrase to modify a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
hokorashii
Did you know?
- The kanji used in 誇らしい (誇) is also used in the word for 'exaggerate' (誇張する), linking the idea of pride with the act of making something seem larger than it is.
- When someone praises a Japanese person, the most common instinctive response is not to say they are 'proud', but to politely deny the praise using いえいえ (ie ie).
- If you use 自慢 to describe yourself, it can sound quite arrogant or boastful. While 誇らしい describes a noble, internal feeling, 自慢 carries a nuance of someone who is actively showing off or bragging to others.
Examples in context
- 母は、僕にとっていつも自慢の母だった。I was always proud of my mother.This sentence uses 自慢の to show how someone can be a source of pride for another person.Tatoeba #11561899 by small_snow, translation #11697755 by pip
- 私は彼の成し遂げたことで非常に誇りを感じています。I feel extremely proud of his accomplishments.
- 君の成功を見て本当に誇りに思うよ。I truly feel proud seeing your success.
- 優勝できて、とても誇らしいです。Yuushou dekite, totemo hokorashii desu.I feel very proud to have won the championship.
- 息子が立派に成長して、誇らしい気持ちです。Musuko ga rippa ni seichou shite, hokorashii kimochi desu.I feel proud that my son has grown into a fine person.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are talking about a friend's recent achievement.
- 蓮 Ren彼の成功は、本当に誇らしいね。Kare no seikou wa, hontou ni hokorashii ne.His success is truly something to be proud of.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、彼ならやってくれると信じていたよ。Un, kare nara yatte kureru to shinjite ita yo.Yeah, I believed he could do it.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵も、彼の活躍を誇らしく思うだろう？Himari mo, kare no katsuyaku wo hokorashiku omou darou?You feel proud of his great performance too, don't you, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himariもちろんだよ、私もすごく嬉しいわ。Mochiron da yo, watashi mo sugoku ureshii wa.Of course, I am very happy for him too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “proud” translations and entries 誇らしい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
