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Words Kanji Guides About

漢おとこ

お

と

こ

○

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

noun

man among men; man's man

slang

Slang term for a man who embodies traditional masculine ideals: strong, reliable, and admirable. Often used in a complimentary or aspirational way among men.

See also: 漢 (かん)

あいつは本ほん当とうに漢おとこだ。
That guy is a real man among men.
漢おとこなら約やく束そくは守まもれ。
If you're a man's man, keep your promises.

Kanji

漢Sino-, China

Similar words

男おとこ
Standard word for 'man' or 'male'. 漢 is a slangier, more idealized term for a manly man.
漢かん
The regular on-reading of the same kanji, used in compounds like 漢字 (kanji) or 漢方 (Chinese medicine). The slang reading おとこ is a special usage.

Etymology

The kanji 漢 originally refers to China or the Han dynasty. Its use as slang for a 'real man' likely comes from the idea of a strong, heroic figure, possibly influenced by historical or fictional Chinese warriors. The reading おとこ is an irregular kun-reading applied to this kanji in this specific slang sense.