傑作

• 読み: けっさく
• ローマ字: kessaku
• 漢字の分解: 傑 (ketsu) — outstanding, eminent; 作 (saku/tsuku) — work, creation, make
• 発音: /kessakɯ/

意味

Masterpiece; masterwork. Also used ironically to mean a blunder or howler.

In its primary sense, 傑作 is high praise for a work of art, literature, or craftsmanship. However, it is frequently used in colloquial speech with heavy irony to mock a spectacular mistake or absurd situation, similar to 'what a gem' in English. Context determines which meaning is intended.

例文

1. この交響曲は彼の生涯の傑作と広く認められている。
2. 書類の宛先を間違えるとは、なかなかの傑作だね。
3. 展覧会に出品された傑作の数々に、観客は息をのんだ。

使い方ガイド

場面: art, literature, irony, compliments

トーン: praise or irony depending on context

起源と歴史

Compound of 傑 (ketsu, outstanding/eminent) and 作 (saku, work/creation). Literally means an outstanding work, though ironic usage has become common in modern Japanese.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal