氷山の一角

• 読み: ひょうざんのいっかく
• ローマ字: hyouzan no ikkaku
• 漢字の分解: 氷 (hyou) — ice; 山 (zan) — mountain; 一 (ichi/ikka) — one; 角 (kaku) — corner, angle
• 発音: /çoː.zaɴ.no.ik.ka.kɯ/

意味

Tip of the iceberg. A small, visible part of a much larger problem or situation.

A set expression (慣用句) meaning that what is visible is only a small fraction of the whole, just as most of an iceberg is hidden underwater. Used exactly like the English equivalent — to indicate that a revealed problem, scandal, or issue is far bigger than it appears. Very common in news commentary, editorial writing, and everyday conversation when discussing hidden problems.

例文

1. 今回の不正は氷山の一角にすぎない。
2. この問題は氷山の一角で、根はもっと深い。
3. 報告された被害は氷山の一角だろう。

使い方ガイド

場面: news commentary, problem analysis, daily conversation

トーン: cautionary

起源と歴史

Calque from English 'tip of the iceberg.' 氷山 (hyouzan, iceberg) + の (no, of) + 一角 (ikkaku, one corner). Adopted into Japanese through Western scientific and literary influence.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal