ぶんざい

分際
social standing

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ぶんざい【分際】

one's social standing [position, status]; one's station in life.

●学生の分際で being a student as one is

・学生の分際でブランド物の服など要らないだろうと母は言う. My mother says that since I am a student, famous brand clothes are not necessary.

・一年生の分際で生意気な口をたたくな. A first year student should not say something fresh (like that).

●分際をわきまえる know one's station in life [distance].