面目躍如

• 読み: めんもくやくじょ
• ローマ字: menmoku yakujō
• 漢字の分解: 面 (men) — face; 目 (moku) — eye; 躍 (yaku) — leap, spring; 如 (jo/nyo) — like, as if
• 発音: /me̞nmo̞kɯjakɯd͡ʑo̞/

意味

Living up to one's reputation; performing in a manner befitting one's name; in true form.

A four-character compound (四字熟語) expressing that someone is acting exactly as expected of their reputation — their true character springs vividly to life. 躍如 means vivid or springing alive. Typically appears as 面目躍如たる (befitting one's reputation) or 面目躍如といった貫禄 (the composure befitting one's reputation). Formal and literary in register.

例文

1. 決勝でのプレーはまさに横綱面目躍如たるものだった。
2. 百戦錬磨の政治家面目躍如といった貫禄が演説に滲み出ていた。
3. ベテラン作家の最新作は面目躍如の完成度を誇っていた。

使い方ガイド

場面: literary, journalism, praise, formal evaluation

トーン: positive

起源と歴史

面目 (face, honour) + 躍如 (vivid, springing to life). The compound expresses the idea that one's reputation 'springs to life' in one's actions. Classical Chinese in origin, used in formal Japanese since the Edo period.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Educated