What it means
ぶる is a suffix-like godan verb meaning to pretend to be a certain kind of person or to behave in a way associated with a quality. It often suggests affected, conspicuous, or mildly ridiculed behavior rather than a neutral description. It commonly follows a noun or an i-adjective stem, and it can be conjugated like an ordinary verb.
Usage note
ぶる usually carries a critical or mocking nuance, so it is not interchangeable with a neutral expression such as ふりをする. Its polite form is made by conjugating ぶる as a verb, although the polite form may sound less common when describing deliberately affected behavior.
How to use it
彼は大人ぶります。
He pretends to be an adult.
彼は偉ぶります。
He acts superior.
彼は大人ぶる。
He pretends to be an adult.
彼は偉ぶる。
He acts superior.
Example sentences
彼は一度も現場を見ていないのに、専門家ぶって新人に安全管理を説いた。
Although he had never once seen the worksite, he acted like an expert and lectured the newcomers on safety management.
彼女は海外経験がないのに、国際人ぶって英語の発音を批評します。
Although she has no experience abroad, she pretends to be an international person and criticizes English pronunciation.