偉(えら)そう

えらそう
na-adjective
self-important; stuck-up; acting like a big shot
informalcolloquialpersonality
1. self-important; stuck-up; acting like a big shot
Describes someone who behaves as if they were more important or knowledgeable than they are. Always critical — it describes the impression the person gives, not their actual standing.
偉(えら)そうな顔(かお)をしている。
He has a self-important look on his face.
新人(しんじん)なのに偉(えら)そうに指示(しじ)を出(だ)す。
He's new here, yet he gives orders like he's in charge.
偉(えら)そうなことを言(い)ってしまったが、自分(じぶん)もまだできていないと気(き)づいた。
I said something high-handed, but then realized I can't do it myself yet either.

偉(えら)い (great, admirable) plus the suffix そう (seeming). Because そう describes appearance rather than fact, 偉(えら)そう means "acting great" — and in practice always implies the person is not.

Usage

Behaves as a na-adjective: 偉(えら)そうな態度(たいど) (a self-important attitude), 偉(えら)そうに話(はな)す (to talk like a big shot). The adverbial 偉(えら)そうに is the most common form.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 生意気(なまいき) (cheeky, impudent)
Compare: 威張(いば)る (to throw one's weight around)
Related: 横柄(おうへい) (arrogant)
Compare: 高慢(こうまん) (arrogant)
Compare: 尊大(そんだい) (haughty)
general
Added 2026.7.28 6:18 · Revised 2026.9.6 9:20
30000/30176_erasou