Jigajisan (自画自賛 - Self-Admiration)

I think that everyone would like to praise himself/herself sometimes.

To praise oneself is often referred to as "jigajisan" (自画自賛) in Japanese.

Here the "ji" (自) means "my" or "myself," and "ga" (画) means "painting."

Also, in Oriental paintings, inscriptions/poetry related to the painting are called "san" (賛).

That is to say, the original meaning of "jigajisan" is to write an inscription/poetry of your painting.

It is thought that since the kanji "賛" (san) include the meaning of "praise," this term has come to mean "praising oneself" or "self-admiration."

自画自賛

たまには、自分のことを褒めたくなることがあると思います。

自分自身を褒めることを、日本語ではよく「自画自賛」という四字熟語で表現します。

「自」は "my" や "myself," 「画」は "painting" を意味します。

そして、東洋画ではその絵画に関する詩文のことを 「賛」もしくは「画賛」と言います。

すなわち「自画自賛」の本来の意味は、自分の描いた絵に対して自分で詩文を書くことを言いします。

「賛」というには「褒める」という意味も含まれることから、現在の「自分自身を褒める」や「自慢」のような意味になったと考えられています。

• I think that everyone would like to praise himself/herself sometimes.
• I think that everyone would like to praise themselves sometimes.

• To praise oneself is often referred to as "jigajisan" (自画自賛) in Japanese.
• The act of praising oneself is often referred to as "jigajisan" (自画自賛) in Japanese.

Interesting! If there is no one around to praise you for your deeds, why not to do it yourself :)