Kou Itten (紅一点 - The Only Woman in a Group)
Nov 11, 2018 22:01
Kou Itten
A group I know is composed of about twenty men and one woman.
When a woman belonging to a male group like this case, she is referred to as 'kou itten' (紅一点).
'Kou' (紅) means "red" or "crimson," 'i/ichi' (一) means "one," and 'ten' (点) means "point."
Originally, this term was used in China to mean "one crimson flower blooming in a field of grass."
In Japan, it came to mean "a different thing among many things," furthermore, these days it is usually used to mean "a woman among many men."
A group I know is composed of about twenty men and one woman.
When a woman belonging to a male group like this case, she is referred to as 'kou itten' (紅一点).
'Kou' (紅) means "red" or "crimson," 'i/ichi' (一) means "one," and 'ten' (点) means "point."
Originally, this term was used in China to mean "one crimson flower blooming in a field of grass."
In Japan, it came to mean "a different thing among many things," furthermore, these days it is usually used to mean "a woman among many men."
紅一点
私が知るあるグループは、男性20人と女性1人で構成されています。
このように、多くの男性の中にただ一人いる女性のことを、「紅一点」と言います。
「紅」は "red" や "crimson," 「一」は "one," 「点」は "point" を意味します。
もともとこの言葉は、中国で「一面の緑の中に咲く一輪の紅色の花」を意味するために使われていました。
これが日本では「多くのものの中で異彩を放つもの」の意味として用いられるようになり、「多くの男性の中にいる唯一の女性」の意味を持つようになったというわけです。
私が知るあるグループは、男性20人と女性1人で構成されています。
このように、多くの男性の中にただ一人いる女性のことを、「紅一点」と言います。
「紅」は "red" や "crimson," 「一」は "one," 「点」は "point" を意味します。
もともとこの言葉は、中国で「一面の緑の中に咲く一輪の紅色の花」を意味するために使われていました。
これが日本では「多くのものの中で異彩を放つもの」の意味として用いられるようになり、「多くの男性の中にいる唯一の女性」の意味を持つようになったというわけです。
No. 1 Kiwi
Can you say this if there is one man and twenty women?
Toru
No, I think that we don't have terms to explain the man.
When describing such a situation, we probably use a term ハーレム (harem).
No, I think that we don't have terms to explain the man.
When describing such a situation, we probably use a term ハーレム (harem).
Kiwi
Oh, I see, thanks.
Oh, I see, thanks.
No. 2 Greg
- Kou Itten (紅一点 - The Only Woman in a Group)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Kou Itten
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- A group I know is composed of about twenty men and one woman.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- When a woman belonging to a male group like this case, she is referred to as 'kou itten' (紅一点).
- When a woman belongs to a male group like this case, she is referred to as 'kou itten' (紅一点).
- 'Kou' (紅) means "red" or "crimson," 'i/ichi' (一) means "one," and 'ten' (点) means "point."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Originally, this term was used in China to mean "one crimson flower blooming in a field of grass."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- In Japan, it came to mean "a different thing among many things," furthermore, these days it is usually used to mean "a woman among many men."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
I love reading your descriptions of Japanese idioms! Very educational, and your English is excellent.
Greg
Even better might be: "When a woman is among a group of men like this, she is..."
- When a woman belongs to a male group like this case, she is referred to as 'kou itten' (紅一点).
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction!
I'm glad to hear you say that. :)
Thank you so much for the correction!
I'm glad to hear you say that. :)