門外漢

• 読み: もんがいかん
• ローマ字: mongaikan
• 漢字の分解: 門 (mon/kado) — gate, school; 外 (gai/soto) — outside; 漢 (kan/otoko) — person, man
• 発音: /mo̞ŋgaikàn/

意味

Outsider; layperson; non-specialist; someone outside a particular field.

Literally 'a person outside the gate', used to describe someone who is not an expert or insider in a particular domain. Often spoken humbly about oneself — 私は門外漢ですが (I am not an expert in this, but...) — as a preface before offering an opinion. Can also describe others objectively when highlighting that they lack relevant expertise.

例文

1. 私はこの分野の門外漢ですが、一点質問させてください。
2. 専門家の議論に門外漢が口を挟むのは難しい。
3. 門外漢ながらも独学で医学書を読み解いた。

使い方ガイド

場面: academic, professional, self-deprecation, commentary

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Literally 門 (gate) + 外 (outside) + 漢 (person). Originated in classical Chinese, where being outside the gate of a school or guild signified exclusion from specialised knowledge.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Educated