Chuunibyou Meaning & Symptoms

Have you ever encountered characters or people acting as if they were in a fantasy world? This is more common than you think, and the Japanese have a term for it called Chuunibyou.

Sometimes a young boy influenced by games, animes, mangas, movies, and fantasies may end up having Chuunibyou. In this article, we will explore everything about this crisis of the second year of high school in Japan.

Chuunibyou, or “second-year high school syndrome,” is a Japanese term used to describe a certain type of adolescent behavior. It is often characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, dramatic behavior, and an intense desire to stand out from the crowd.

The syndrome is often harmless and fades over time, but in some cases, it can lead to serious social and psychological problems.

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Table of Contents

What does Chuunibyou mean

Chuunibyou (中二病) is a slang term used to refer to chuugakkou ni-nen byou [中学校二年病] which literally means “second-year high school disease” in Japan.

Chuunibyou is used to describe a person who exhibits delusional behavior, especially thinking they have special powers.

Originally, this term was used to refer to children in the second year of high school who like to act like adults and belittle others; the term evolved into one used to describe delusional behavior.

Some symptoms of this syndrome are:

Exaggerated or grandiose behavior: Acting as if you are the star of your own action movie, or constantly speaking in a grandiose or pretentious manner.
Dramatic behavior: Always trying to be the center of attention, or going out of your way to cause a scene.
Intense desire to stand out: Dressing in strange or eccentric ways, or trying to stand out in any possible way.

This term originated in 1999 when it was first used in a radio program called “Hikaru Ijuin UP’S“. People with Chuunibyou can be literally crazy, difficult to deal with, and sometimes have some underlying issue or an identity crisis.

Types of Chuunibyou

There are 3 types of Chuunibyou, I will describe each one and provide a sample dialogue.

DQN [系] Dokyun-kei

The DQN pretend to be anti-social or act like delinquents when in reality they are not. They create stories about the common behavior of gangs such as fights or take pride in knowing about this subculture. “DQN” is slang for “anti-social person” or “annoying delinquent.”

Example: (Getting furious with their own mother and saying: respect my privacy!)

You’re covered in Band-aids! What happened?
I was in a gang fight.
Oh come on, I know you don’t have a gang.

Subcultural or Hipster – Sabukaru-kei

Sabukaru-kei [サブカル系] often avoids anything popular or well-known, prefers less known trends, and establishes itself as being special.

People of this type do not really love their own subculture, but rather strive to achieve the “cool” factor by not having the same interests as others.

Example: (Listening to Japanese music to be different)

When you go to get Pokémon cards, I want originals in Japanese!
And can you read Japanese?
-_-; Yes, of course I can…

Evil Eye – Jankigan-Kei

Jakigan-kei [邪気眼系] admires mystical powers and thinks they have a hidden power within them. This type is also known as the delusional type. They often establish a special name and tend to name their powers and things related to fantasy.

Example:

Don’t touch this bandana on my left wrist. It is sealing a malevolent spirit inside me, and if you take it off, I might lose control.
Man, calm down. You just have chuunibyou.

Is Chuunibyou a disease?

Chuunibyou is by no means a mental problem or anything like that, but it is often a psychological issue when it serves as an escape from reality for some.

Unfortunately, there are many people who have Chuunibyou in Japan, and many do not overcome this phase due to a lack of acceptance from others.

If someone admires idols, celebrities, foreign cultures, and starts to act like one of them, they can be labeled as a variation of Chuunibyou.

Although chuunibyou is often associated with negative connotations, there are also some positive aspects. For example, many people who suffer from chuunibyou are incredibly creative and imaginative.

They often have a very strong sense of individualism and are not afraid to express themselves. If you think you or someone you know may be suffering from chuunibyou, do not hesitate to seek professional help.

Although it can be a syndrome that is difficult to overcome, with the right treatment and support, it is possible to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

Anime Characters with Chuunibyou

At various times, characters with this syndrome appear, some of them are:

Rikka “Wielder of the Wicked Eye, Master” Takanashi – Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!
Erio “E.T.” Touwa – Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
Megumin – Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
Gundam “Forbidden One” Tanaka – Danganronpa 3;
Jurai “July, Ju-kun” Andou – Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de
Yoshiteru “Blademaster General” Zaimokuza – Oregairu;
Hyouketsu no Judgness – Mayoiga
Ryouko Satou – Aura: Maryuuin Kouga Saigo no Tatakai
Shun “Jet-Black Wing” Kaidou – Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan
Akiko “Shion” Tachibana – Anitore! EX

Notice that most Chuunibyou increase their name with some strange middle name derived from powers, abilities, foreign names, and other representations.

Chuunibyou in the world

The term Chuunibyou has gained more fame in the West with some animes that deal with this theme, such as “Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!” and other animes that feature a character with this problem such as:

“Inou Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de;
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai;
Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko;
NHK ni Youkoso!;

And you? Have you ever escaped reality? Have you ever tried to be an adult when you weren’t? Do you imagine yourself with powers and in fantasy worlds? Or are you an Otaku who insists on learning Japanese, only hears things, and only talks about Japan? Then you have Chuunibyou!

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What does Chuunibyou mean