Japanese word

コンプレックス

Pronunciation

Romajikonpurekkusu

Meaning

  • nouninferiority complex

Example

私は英語の発音にコンプレックスがあります。watashi wa ei go no hatsu on ni ko n pu re kku su ga a ri ma su

I have an inferiority complex about my English pronunciation.

Illustration for コンプレックス (inferiority complex)

More examples

その経験が、私のコンプレックスを和らげてくれました。so no kei ken ga watashi no ko n pu re kku su o yawa ra ge te ku re ma shi ta

That experience eased my inferiority complex.

Core concept

Describes a perceived personal shortcoming that becomes a source of self-consciousness and emotional unease.

Common phrases

  • コンプレックスを持つko n pu re kku su o mo tsu

    have an inferiority complex

  • コンプレックスを克服するko n pu re kku su o koku fuku su ru

    overcome an inferiority complex

Similar words

劣等感rettōkan: A painful awareness of being less capable or worthy than others in some respect.
引け目hikeme: A feeling of shame or disadvantage that causes a person to hold back around others.
苦手意識nigateishiki: A lasting sense of difficulty or weakness toward a particular subject or activity.

Definition in Japanese

自分の能力や容姿などを他人より劣っていると思い悩む気持ち。ji bun no nō ryoku ya yō shi na do o ta nin yo ri oto tte i ru to omo i naya mu ki mo chi

Word origin

コンプレックス (konpurekkusu, "inferiority complex") is a Japanese loanword from English complex, ultimately from Latin complexus, "entwined" or "connected."

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect complex to cover many kinds of complexity, but Japanese コンプレックス (konpurekkusu) normally points to a troubling sense of personal inferiority.

Other meanings

  • complexnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word