1.
self-praise; tooting one's own horn
Boasting about something one has done or owns. Comes from the old practice of each household making and praising its own miso. Most often appears in the set phrase 手前味噌ですが/手前味噌ながら, used as a humble preface before saying something positive about oneself or one's family or company.
手前味噌ですが、自信作です。
Tooting my own horn here, but it's a work I'm proud of.
手前 means "in front of one(self)" — that is, "made at one's own house." The phrase reflects the older practice of homemade miso, where each household believed its own was the best.
Common collocations
- 手前味噌ですが: "It may sound like self-praise, but..." (the most common usage)
- 手前味噌ながら: same nuance, slightly more formal
- 手前味噌になりますが: similar polite preface in business speech
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Almost always used as a humble preface, not as a label for others' boasting. Saying it of someone else would sound rude. Common in speeches, blog posts, and product introductions.
Related Words
Compare:
我田引水 (self-serving)