Tanto Chokunyu

Today I will talk about the four-Chinese character idiom "tanto chokunyu."

"Tanto chokunyu" means to get straight to the main point with no preamble.

For example: "Tanto chokunyu ni iuto, kimi wa kubi da." (I'll get straight to the point. You're fired.)

This idiom comes from the Chinese history book called "The Records of the Transmission of the Lamp."

"Tanto" means "a single sword," "chokunyu" means "to enter straight into somewhere," and "tanto chokunyu" originally meant that someone rushes into an enemy position by oneself with a single sword.

Deriving from it, this idiom has come to mean to the above meaning.

単刀直入

今日は「単刀直入」という四字熟語を紹介します。

「単刀直入」は、前置きなどを省略していきなり本題に入ることや、核心をつくことを表します。

例「単刀直入に言うと、君はクビだ」

この言葉は、中国・北宋代の燈史「景徳傳燈録」に由来します。

もともとは、一人で刀を一振り持ち、敵陣に斬り込むことを意味していました。

これが派生し、いきなり本題に入ることを意味するようになりました。

• Today I will talk about the four-Chinese character idiom "tanto chokunyu."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• "Tanto chokunyu" means to get straight to the main point with no preamble.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• For example: "Tanto chokunyu ni iuto, kimi wa kubi da." (I'll get straight to the point.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• You're fired.)
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• This idiom comes from the Chinese history book called "The Records of the Transmission of the Lamp."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• "Tanto" means "a single sword," "chokunyu" means "to enter straight into somewhere," and "tanto chokunyu" originally meant that someone rushes into an enemy position by oneself with a single sword.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Deriving from it, this idiom has come to mean to the above meaning.
• Deriving from it, this idiom has come to have to the above meaning.

• Today I will talk about the four-Chinese character idiom "tanto chokunyu."
• Today I will talk about the four-character idiom (or: four-character idiomatic phrase) "tanto chokunyu."

• "Tanto" means "a single sword," "chokunyu" means "to enter straight into somewhere," and "tanto chokunyu" originally meant that someone rushes into an enemy position by oneself with a single sword.
• "Tanto" means "a single sword," "chokunyu" means "to enter straight into somewhere," and "tanto chokunyu" originally meant that someone rushes alone into an enemy position armed with only a single sword.

Interesting! Despite the fact it came from China, I think it has a strong Japanese flavor to it.