Being 14 years old is rough. It's a transitional point in life where you become more aware of your own individuality and how it's being restrained. While I believe chuunibyou as a phenomenon is not unique to Japan, I also don't think it's a coincidence that the term was coined in a country with conformist values and the age identified is around when students start being more aware of high school entrance exams. Rebellious values are something considered chuuni in Japan, likely rooted in the pressures of society and also the instinct to discard anything "childish" in an attempt to be seen as an adult (and in turn respected).

Chuuni, in all its forms, is an important step in self-discovery. Discovering your values, finding what you like and don't like -- and inevitably stumbling on the way. 14 years old is often your first real step into individuality, so of course everything isn't going to go right. You may think you know everything when you really don't, or pick a fight with the wrong people, or just try way too hard. That's fine. The naivety is in its own way beautiful, and when the heart is in the right place, should not be discarded simply out of embarrassment.

Chuuni essence is what I call the things that tend to excite those with chuunibyou. For example, magic circles, curses, and power for Evil Eye types, motorcycles and gang terminology for the DQN type, foreign terminology and alternative fashion for the subculture type, elaborate terminology or naming schemes for chuuni in general.

In effect, chuuni essence is what gives you a feeling of "Ah, the person who made this or like this are probably a bit chuunibyou". Things like Devil May Cry, edgy OCs, overly complicated weapon designs.

The importance of this distinction is that just because a character or person is involved with chuuni essence concepts, they're not necessarily chuunibyou themselves. Take complex terminology: in Japanese, there's words or phrases known as Yojijukugo: They're made of four kanji, many are akin to idioms and originate from Chinese scripture or Buddhist text. Given that, chuunibyou tend to love these, they're intricate, they give an air of knowledge, they look cool written out.

But the origins aren't really chuunibyou. Chuunibyou itself is linked with self-perception and a sense of cheesiness or cringiness. Buddha isn't chuuni. Similarly, a character who has dark powers and an edgy design isn't necessarily chuuni. Determining whether they are is often a topic of debate, which is where I think the distinction between chuuni essence and chuunibyou is important so you can distinguish whether a character just has elements a chuuni would like/design versus the character themselves being a chuuni.

A gift from me to you~ A chart of what I consider important facets of a chuuni (Regardless of type). To the left is a filled out example for my OC Opheliaux!

Feel free to use this chart in your character propaganda for an idea of how or even build off of it for your own chuuni-ology chart. My personal explaination for what each stat means (you're free to interpret as you wish) + transparent versions In both black and white under the cut!