ぶる / ぶって / ぶった
🃏 Flashcard
ぶる / ぶって / ぶった
buru / butte / butta
Tap to reveal usage
behaving like; to pretend / act like ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
buru / butte / butta
Post ID
51203
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
behaving like; to pretend / act like ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses acting or pretending to be something one is not, often with a critical tone.
Attaches to
Attaches to the stem of nouns (e.g., 学者ぶる) and the stem of adjectives (e.g., 偉い → 偉ぶる). The pattern conjugates as a 五段 verb: ぶる → ぶって (te-form), ぶった (past).
This suffix turns a noun or adjective stem into a verb meaning to behave as if one were that thing. It usually implies that the person is putting on airs or pretending, so it often carries a negative or mocking nuance. For example, 金持ちぶる means to act like a rich person when you're not, and 学者ぶる means to act like a scholar when you lack the knowledge. It is not used for genuine attempts to become something; it's about superficial pretense.
彼はいつも知識人ぶって、難しい話をする。
Kare wa itsumo chishikijin butte, muzukashii hanashi o suru.
He always acts like an intellectual and talks about difficult things.
あの店員は偉ぶって、客に偉そうな態度をとる。
Ano ten'in wa erabutte, kyaku ni erasōna taido o toru.
That clerk acts arrogant and treats customers condescendingly.
彼女は金持ちぶって、高いレストランによく行くけど、実は貯金がないらしい。
Kanojo wa kanemochi butte, takai resutoran ni yoku iku kedo, jitsu wa chokin ga nai rashii.
She pretends to be rich and often goes to expensive restaurants, but apparently she has no savings.
Not ふりをする
ふりをする also means to pretend, but it is neutral and can describe a deliberate act of pretending without the negative judgment. ぶる implies showing off or putting on airs. For example, 知らないふりをする means to pretend not to know, whereas 知ったかぶりをする (using ぶり) means to act like you know when you don't, with criticism.
Register
This is primarily used in spoken Japanese, but it is not vulgar; it is a standard way to express criticism of someone's pretentious behavior.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ぶる / ぶって / ぶった
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ぶる / ぶって / ぶった three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ぶる / ぶって / ぶった. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ぶる / ぶって / ぶった mean?
▼
Behaving like; to pretend / act like ~
What JLPT level is ぶる / ぶって / ぶった?
▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ぶる / ぶって / ぶった in a sentence?
▼
Attach ぶる / ぶって / ぶった (buru / butte / butta) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ぶる / ぶって / ぶった formal or casual Japanese?
▼
ぶる / ぶって / ぶった is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember ぶる / ぶって / ぶった long-term?
▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.