Ha ni Kinu Kise nu (歯に衣着せぬ - Outspoken)

Sep 26, 2023 21:42
Ha ni Kinu Kise nu

The concept of speaking one's thoughts frankly without indirect expressions can be described as 'ha ni kinu kise nu' (歯に衣着せぬ) in Japanese.

Since 'ha' (歯) means "tooth," 'kinu' (衣) means "clothes," 'kise/kiseru' (着せ/着せる) means "to put on," and 'nu' (ぬ) is a negative suffix, the literal meaning of this expression is "not to put clothes on one's teeth."

While you can't literally put clothes on your teeth, in this context, 'kinu' is used as a metaphor for something that hides or adorns your teeth.

In other words, it implies that the teeth (and even the mouth) that are not hidden and adorned can speak frankly without any pretense.
歯に衣着せぬ

遠回しな言い方をせず、率直に思ったことを言うことを、「歯に衣着せぬ」と形容することがあります。

「歯」は "tooth"、「衣」は "clothes"、「着せ/着せる」は "to put on"、「ぬ」は否定の接尾辞であるため、「歯に衣着せぬ」の文字どおりの意味は "not to put clothes on one's teeth" となります。

実際に歯に衣(衣服)を着せることはできませんが、ここで「衣」は、「歯を隠すもの」や「歯を飾るもの」の比喩として使われています。

衣で隠されたり飾られたりしていない歯(延いては口)からは、包み隠すことのない率直な言葉が発せられるというわけです。
No. 1 O-Star
  • Ha ni Kinu Kise nu (歯に衣着せぬ - Outspoken)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Ha ni Kinu Kise nu
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The concept of speaking one's thoughts frankly without indirect expressions can be described as 'ha ni kinu kise nu' (歯に衣着せぬ) in Japanese.
  • The action of speaking one's thoughts frankly without indirect expressions can be described as 'ha ni kinu kise nu' (歯に衣着せぬ) in Japanese.
  • Since 'ha' (歯) means "tooth," 'kinu' (衣) means "clothes," 'kise/kiseru' (着せ/着せる) means "to put on," and 'nu' (ぬ) is a negative suffix, the literal meaning of this expression is "not to put clothes on one's teeth."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • While you can't literally put clothes on your teeth, in this context, 'kinu' is used as a metaphor for something that hides or adorns your teeth.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In other words, it implies that the teeth (and even the mouth) that are not hidden and adorned can speak frankly without any pretense.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
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