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【No. 0776】Iro-otoko (A Good-looking Man)

Feb 1, 2017 22:31
Today I will talk about the Japanese word "iro-otoko."

"Iro-otoko" means a good-looking man, a lascivious man or a man who is popular with women.

Since "iro" means "lascivious" (also means "color") and "otoko" means "man," "iro-otoko" originally meant only a womanizer.

During the Edo period, it came to mean a good-looking man and a popular man.

It is thought that such a change of meanings is derived from Kabuki.

In Kabuki, an actor who played a love scene as a role of a beautiful man (called "nuregotoshi") had his face painted white.

From this fact, "nuregotoshi" came to be called "iro-otoko," then came to have the above meanings.
色男

今日は、「色男」という日本語を紹介します。

「色男」は、顔立ちが良い美男子や、女性にもてる男、好色な男を表す言葉です。

「色」は「好色」であることを意味するため、もともと「色男」は女遊びが好きな男性を指す言葉でした。

そして江戸時代の頃には、美男子や、女性にもてる男を指すようになりました。

このような意味の変化は、歌舞伎に由来すると考えられています。

歌舞伎において、濡れ場を演じる男の役者(濡事師)は、色白の美男子に見せるために顔を白く塗っていました。

このことから、「濡事師」は「色男」と呼ばれるようになり、現在の意味を持つようになったそうです。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 TommyGrove
  • Today I will talk about the Japanese word "iro-otoko."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • "Iro-otoko" means a good-looking man, a lascivious man or a man who is popular with women.
  • "Iro-otoko" means a good-looking man, a lascivious man or a man who is popular with women.

    "lascivious" is an obscure word. You can call a man who is popular with woman a "ladies' man"

  • Since "iro" means "lascivious" (also means "color") and "otoko" means "man," "iro-otoko" originally meant only a womanizer.
  • Since "iro" means "lascivious" (also means "color") and "otoko" means "man," "iro-otoko" originally just meant a "womanizer."
  • During the Edo period, it came to mean a good-looking man and a popular man.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It is thought that such a change of meanings is derived from Kabuki.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In Kabuki, an actor who played a love scene as a role of a beautiful man (called "nuregotoshi") had his face painted white.
  • In a love scene, an Kabuki actor who played the role of a beautiful man (called "nuregotoshi") had his face painted white.
  • From this fact, "nuregotoshi" came to be called "iro-otoko," then came to have the above meanings.
  • From this fact, "nuregotoshi" came to be called "iro-otoko." Then came to have the other meanings.

Really great English! Logical, clear, articulate.
However, this sounds very formal, like a professor.

Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
I'm glad to hear you say that (^^)
Actually, my dream is to be a professor someday, haha.

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