Matching App Common Occurrences Karuta ― [Su] Annual Income, Height, Education... The Unspoken Assumption That Profile Specs Are Inflated by 40%

"Never believe exactly what is written." This has become common knowledge among advanced matching app users.

Reading card for today, May 13, 2026

Inflated specs, a 40% increase is the assumption

When you look at matching app profiles, you start to notice something. "Aren't there a lot of people with an annual income of 6 million or more?" "Everyone seems to be over 180cm tall." "They all say they are college graduates or higher..."

📊
The profile said "Annual income 5 million~," but when we met and talked, it turned out to be take-home pay.
(Gross pay and take-home pay are different)
📏
I met someone who said they were "175cm tall," but they were almost at the same eye level as me (165cm).
(Even with heels, they didn't reach it)
🏢
They said they worked for a "major company," but in reality, they were a contract employee at an affiliate.
(It's not a lie, but...)
😅
I also unconsciously wrote a bit more, thinking "If I include my side job, it's about 4 million..."
(I couldn't really say anything about others)

It's funny, but I wonder if there are people who thought, "Oh, me too..." at the last scene.

Why do people "inflate" their specs?

On matching apps, a profile with numbers lined up is your first impression. Annual income, height, and education are factors that are just as directly linked to "likes" as your appearance. Therefore, it is natural in a sense that the psychology of wanting to look even a little better works.

But even if you can get a match with "inflated specs," reality is revealed the moment you meet. If you raise expectations too high, no matter how good you actually are, you will give the impression of being "less than I thought." This is the biggest waste.

Which type of spec-inflator are you?

💴
Annual income exaggeration type
Calculates annual income using a unique formula where it's true if you include side jobs, overtime pay, and bonuses.
📐
Height exaggeration type
170cm in shoes, 175cm in spirit. This is the result of registering with "about that much."
🔎
The one who sees through everything
An expert who reads profile specs by multiplying by 0.7. They have internalized the "40% inflation assumption."
🙋
The honest declaration type (the strongest)
Writes specs as they are. It's easier to create a "better than I thought!" moment when you meet.

3 tips for building trust through your profile

Write numbers that are "close to reality." It is 100 times better to exceed expectations when you meet than to fall below them.
Put more effort into your self-introduction than your spec section. You can inflate numbers, but you can't inflate the vibe of your writing. It's easier to convey your true self.
Read the other person's specs as "for reference only." There are far more things you won't know until you meet and talk than what the numbers show.

Examples of profile entries

NG
Annual income: 6 million~ (Includes all side jobs, overtime, and bonuses, calculated at the maximum value)
OK
Annual income: 4 million range (Because I wrote it honestly, the impression of being "an easy person to talk to" remains when we meet)

Specs are just the entrance. The person who makes you feel "they are much better than I thought!" when you meet is ultimately the most popular. Rather than inflating numbers, exceed them when you meet. That is the strongest profile strategy.