Noun / Na-adjective stem + ぶる

[To pretend to be; to act as if; to put on airs of]

Connection: Noun / Na-adjective stem + ぶる (conjugates as a godan verb)

Usage: A suffix meaning to pretend to be something or to put on airs. Carries a negative connotation — the speaker views the behavior as fake, arrogant, or pretentious.

Common combinations:

• 偉ぶる (to act important/bossy)
• 知ったかぶる (to pretend to know)
• 大人ぶる (to act grown-up)
• 利口ぶる (to act smart)
• 強がる is similar but specifically about pretending to be strong

Examples:

彼はいつも偉ぶっていて、周りから嫌われている。(He always acts important and is disliked by those around him.)

知ったかぶりはよくない。(Pretending to know things is not good.)

まだ子供なのに大人ぶるのはおかしい。(It's funny that he acts grown-up even though he's still a child.)