【No. 1160】Happou Bijin (八方美人 - Everybody's Friend)
Feb 20, 2018 10:58
A woman who tries to please everybody is called 八方美人 (happou bijin) in Japanese.
八方 (happou) means "eight directions" and 美人 (bijin) means "beautiful woman."
Here the eight directions represent "north," "northeast," "east," "southeast," "south," "southwest," "west," and "northwest," so the literal meaning of "happou bijin" is a woman who is beautiful from any direction.
However, the "bijin" implies a person with a beautiful attitude towards others, not a woman with a beautiful face.
That is to say, "happou bijin" means a person who tries to be all things to all people.
It might sound like a good meaning, but note that this term is often used in an ironic meaning.
八方 (happou) means "eight directions" and 美人 (bijin) means "beautiful woman."
Here the eight directions represent "north," "northeast," "east," "southeast," "south," "southwest," "west," and "northwest," so the literal meaning of "happou bijin" is a woman who is beautiful from any direction.
However, the "bijin" implies a person with a beautiful attitude towards others, not a woman with a beautiful face.
That is to say, "happou bijin" means a person who tries to be all things to all people.
It might sound like a good meaning, but note that this term is often used in an ironic meaning.
八方美人
誰に対しても如才なくふるまう人のことを、日本語で「八方美人」と言います。
「八方」は "eight directions," 「美人」は "beautiful woman" を意味します。
ここで「八方」は「北」「北東」「東」「南東」「南」「南西」「西」「北西」のことであり、「八方美人」の文字どおりの意味は「どのほうこうから見ても欠点のない美人」です。
ただし、この「美人」は顔が美しい人という意味ではなく、他人に対する態度のことを指しています。
すなわち「八方美人」は、「誰からも好かれるように上手くふるまう人」のことを表します。
これだけ聞くと良い意味に聞こえるかもしれませんが、皮肉を込めて使われることも多いので注意して下さい。
誰に対しても如才なくふるまう人のことを、日本語で「八方美人」と言います。
「八方」は "eight directions," 「美人」は "beautiful woman" を意味します。
ここで「八方」は「北」「北東」「東」「南東」「南」「南西」「西」「北西」のことであり、「八方美人」の文字どおりの意味は「どのほうこうから見ても欠点のない美人」です。
ただし、この「美人」は顔が美しい人という意味ではなく、他人に対する態度のことを指しています。
すなわち「八方美人」は、「誰からも好かれるように上手くふるまう人」のことを表します。
これだけ聞くと良い意味に聞こえるかもしれませんが、皮肉を込めて使われることも多いので注意して下さい。
Corrections (2)
No. 1 Chan
- It might sound like a good meaning, but note that this term is often used in an ironic meaning.
-
It might sound like a good meaning, but note that this term is often used in an ironic way.
you can also say "with an ironic meaning" or "used ironically."
I learned a new word today, thank you! ^^
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! (^^)
Thank you so much for the correction! (^^)
No. 2 outdoors
- A woman who tries to please everybody is called 八方美人 (happou bijin) in Japanese.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- 八方 (happou) means "eight directions" and 美人 (bijin) means "beautiful woman."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Here the eight directions represent "north," "northeast," "east," "southeast," "south," "southwest," "west," and "northwest," so the literal meaning of "happou bijin" is a woman who is beautiful from any direction.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- However, the "bijin" implies a person with a beautiful attitude towards others, not a woman with a beautiful face.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- That is to say, "happou bijin" means a person who tries to be all things to all people.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Sometimes we call that a "people pleaser".
Toru
Thank you so much for letting me know the term!
I learned something new :)
Thank you so much for letting me know the term!
I learned something new :)