皮肉

• 読み: ひにく
• ローマ字: hiniku
• 漢字の分解: 皮 (hi/kawa) — skin, surface, outer layer; 肉 (niku) — flesh, meat, body
• 発音: /hʲinikɯ/

意味

Irony; sarcasm; cynicism. A remark or situation where the surface meaning differs from or contradicts the deeper intent, often to criticise or amuse.

A noun and na-adjective. 皮肉を言う (to say something sarcastic), 皮肉なことに (ironically). Can describe verbal irony (sarcastic remarks) or situational irony (an ironic twist of fate). 皮肉屋 denotes a sarcastic person or cynic. Widely used in everyday conversation and writing at all registers.

例文

1. 皮肉なことに、節約しようと行ったセールで余計に金を使ってしまった。
2. 彼は皮肉っぽい言い方をするが、根は親切な人だ。
3. 上司に皮肉を言われても動じない強さが、社会人には必要だ。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily conversation, literature, humour, criticism

トーン: wry

起源と歴史

Compound of 皮 (hi/kawa, skin/surface) and 肉 (niku, flesh). The metaphor contrasts the skin (outer appearance/surface meaning) with the flesh (inner reality), capturing the essence of saying one thing while meaning another.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal