1.
habit of fantasizing; tendency toward delusion or daydreaming
A persistent tendency to indulge in fantasies, unrealistic imaginings, or delusional thinking. Can range from harmless daydreaming to a more concerning pattern of detachment from reality.
彼女には妄想癖がある。
She has a habit of fantasizing.
妄想癖のせいで、現実と想像の区別がつかなくなることがある。
Because of a tendency toward delusion, one can sometimes lose the distinction between reality and imagination.
友人に「妄想癖があるね」と言われて恥ずかしくなった。
I felt embarrassed when my friend told me I have a tendency to fantasize.
Composed of 妄想 (delusion, fantasy) and 癖 (habit, tendency). The 癖 suffix indicates a habitual or compulsive behavior pattern, as seen in other compounds like 潔癖 (fastidiousness) and 偏癖 (eccentricity).
The tone of 妄想癖 depends on context. In casual conversation, it is often used light-heartedly to describe someone who tends to daydream or get carried away with romantic or dramatic imaginings. In more serious or clinical contexts, it can imply a concerning pattern of delusional thinking.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 妄想癖がある: to have a fantasizing habit
- 妄想癖が強い: to have a strong tendency to fantasize
- 妄想癖を直す: to fix a fantasizing habit
- 妄想癖のある人: a person prone to fantasizing
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 妄想: delusion, fantasy — the act itself, without the connotation of habitual behavior
- 空想癖: daydreaming habit — similar but with a softer, more innocent connotation of imaginative thinking
- 被害妄想: persecution complex — a specific type of delusional thinking focused on believing one is being targeted