N1 Appearance, Manner, and Resemblance

~がましい: meaning, usage and examples

~がましい means: acting like... / -ish (often negative).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれの言いい方かたは、いつも押おし付つけがましい。

   The way he talks is always pushy.

2. 恩おん着きせがましい態度たいどは、人ひとを不快ふかいにさせる。

   Acting as if you are doing people a big favor makes them uncomfortable.

3. 言いい訳わけがましく聞きこえるかもしれないが、渋滞じゅうたいで遅おくれたのは本当ほんとうだ。

   It may sound like an excuse, but I really was late because of traffic.

4. 差さし出でがましいようですが、こちらの方法ほうほうもご検討けんとういただけないでしょうか。

   I don't mean to overstep, but could you also consider this method?

When to use it

A suffix meaning "seeming like X" or "having a hint of X", usually in an unpleasant or pushy way. It appears in a fixed set of words: 押おし付つけがましい (pushy), 恩おん着きせがましい (acting as if doing you a big favor), 言いい訳わけがましい (sounding like an excuse), 差さし出でがましい (presumptuous). 差さし出でがましいようですが is a polite opener before advice.

Nuance

Mostly negative and critical, except in the humble phrase 差さし出でがましいようですが, which is formal business Japanese. It is not productive: you cannot attach it freely to any noun. Learners should learn the fixed words, not create new ones.

Compare

っぽい is a general, casual "-ish": 子こどもっぽい, 安やすっぽい. がましい is limited to a few words and suggests unpleasant pushiness: 恩おん着きせがましい. Compare じみた (年寄としよりじみた), which means looking like X when you should not. がましい words are about attitude toward others.

Tip: Learn the five words: 押おし付つけがましい, 恩おん着きせがましい, 言いい訳わけがましい, 差さし出でがましい and 未練みれんがましい. That is nearly all of the pattern.