直言

• 読み: ちょくげん
• ローマ字: chokugen
• 漢字の分解: 直 (choku/nao) — straight, direct; 言 (gen/ko) — word, speak
• 発音: /tɕo.kɯ.ɡen/

意味

Speaking frankly; plain speaking; saying directly what one thinks without softening or evasion. Implies a forthright, sometimes blunt communication style.

A noun and suru-verb. 直言する means to speak one's mind plainly. In a culture that values indirect communication and reading the atmosphere, 直言 stands out as unusually candid. It can be admired as courageous honesty or criticised as tactlessness, depending on context. 直言居士 is a set phrase for someone known as a frank, outspoken person.

例文

1. 彼は権力者にも臆さず直言することで知られている。
2. 部下への直言が時に摩擦を生むが、信頼につながることもある。
3. 直言居士として評判の先輩は、会議でも遠慮なく意見を述べた。

使い方ガイド

場面: workplace, political commentary, character description

トーン: candid

起源と歴史

From 直 (choku/jiki — straight, direct) and 言 (gen/i — word, speech). Together they convey saying things directly and without detour, the communication equivalent of a straight line.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal