Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Show" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "show", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
見せ付ける
みせつける (misetsukeru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
衒う
衒う(てらう)
C2PLUS / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "show" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 見せ付ける and 衒う.
In Japanese, 見せ付ける (みせつける (misetsukeru)) is typically associated with "to show off; to display ostentatiously; to make a show of" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Implies a deliberate act of showing something to others, often with the intention of boasting, intimidating, or causing envy..
On the other hand, 衒う (衒う(てらう)) maps to "to show off; to parade (one's knowledge); to be ostentatious" (Syllabus Level: C2PLUS) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "show" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "見せ付ける"
彼は新しい車を友人たちに見せ付けた。
He showed off his new car to his friends.
Bilingual Context for "衒う"
毎日、日本語を練習するために衒う。
Every day, I show off; to parade (one's knowledge); to be ostentatious to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は新しい車を友人たちに見せ付けた。" (Meaning: "He showed off his new car to his friends.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "見せ付ける" fits here because it means "to show off; to display ostentatiously; to make a show of" in the context of: "He showed off his new car to his friends.". "衒う" represents "to show off; to parade (one's knowledge); to be ostentatious".