JLPT · Level 10
75 words
Japanese word
大げさ
Pronunciation
Romajiōgesa
Meaning
- na-adjectiveexaggerated
Example
その話は大げさです。so no hanashi wa ō ge sa de su
That story is exaggerated.
More examples
彼は小さな問題を大げさに取り上げています。kare wa chii sa na mon dai o ō ge sa ni to ri a ge te i ma su
He is making a small problem seem much bigger than it is.
Core concept
Describes a claim, reaction, or style as more intense or impressive than reality justifies.
Common phrases
大げさな話ō ge sa na hanashi
an exaggerated story
大げさな表現ō ge sa na hyō gen
an exaggerated expression
大げさに言うō ge sa ni i u
speak in an exaggerated way
Similar words
誇大kodai: Describes a statement or presentation as making something seem greater or more important than it is.
大仰ōgyō: Describes an expression or manner as excessively grand, formal, or elaborate.
Definition in Japanese
実際の程度や様子よりも誇張されていて度を越しているさま。jis sai no tei do ya yō su yo ri mo ko chō sa re te i te tabi o ko shi te i ru sa ma
Word origin
The word 大げさ (ōgesa) derives from 大袈裟 (ōgesa): 大 (ō, "large") modifies 袈裟 (kesa, "Buddhist robe"), giving rise to the sense of something made larger than it should be.
Usage tips
- For English-speaking learners, 大げさ (ōgesa) often applies to an overblown reaction as well as an exaggerated statement, so it is broader than bombastic, which mainly describes language or style.
Other meanings
- bombasticna-adjective
- grandiosena-adjective
Opposites
- 控えめhikaemerestrainedna-adjective
Related words
- 大げささōgesasaexaggerationnoun