ぶる/ぶり[buru/buri]: pretend

August 28, 2020

Have you heard of ”~ぶる” such as ”知ったかぶる”, ”大人ぶる”, ”いい人ぶる”etc?

”ぶる” is a suffix that is used after a noun, an adjective and an adjective verb in order to make a verb. It is derived from ”振りをする” and means ”to pretend”.
It is used to describe a person who behaves in a particular way as something is true in order to deceive others or as a game. ”ぶり” is the noun form of ”ぶる”.

Ken is complaining about Mike’s attitude.

  • Ken: I’m pissed off with Mike!
    マイクってムカつく!
  • Leo: What happened?
    どうした?

  • Ken: Sara told me that her laptop ran slower as time went by. She wanted me to fix it, but Mike suddenly came and described the cause of the problem as I instructed him before.
    サラが、だんだんパソコンの(速度が)遅くなってきた、って言ってきたんだ。俺に直してほしいって言ってきたのに、アイツが突然来て、以前俺が(アイツに)教えた通り、(その問題の)原因を説明しだした(*1)んだよ。
  • Leo: So, what’s the problem?
    で、何が問題なんだよ?
  • Ken: You know he hadn’t known it until I taught him it. He is a real know-it-all!
    俺が教えるまで知らなかったくせに、マジで知ったかぶりだよ!
Meg is stressed out because she is really busy at work.

  • Meg: I’ve been working overtime lately. I don’t even have time to see my boyfriend.
    最近残業ばっか(り)だよ。彼氏会う時間もない。
  • Amy: I think you always take on extra work to help others. Why don’t you turn it down sometimes?
    メグはさー、いつも他人を手伝って、働き過ぎなんだよ。たまには、断ったら?
  • Meg: Yeah. I should stop being a nice person.
    うん。いい人ぶるの、やめなきゃ。
  • Amy: I didn’t mean it. Take it easy.
    そんな事言っていないよ。もっと肩の力を抜いて(*2)。
  • Meg: Thank you.
    ありがとう。
*1~(し)出す: It means to start doing something (suddenly). ex) 走り出す, 怒り出す, 笑い出すetc
*2肩の力を抜く: It is a common phrase that means to take it easy and and have fun. You can use it to encourage someone when he/she works too hard or he/she is nervous.

-LESSON
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