お墨付き
Meaning
An official seal of approval or authoritative endorsement, originating from the ink-sealed documents of the samurai era.
In modern usage, お墨付き indicates that someone with authority or expertise has given their approval. It adds weight and credibility to a recommendation. While the original meaning involved literal ink seals on official documents, today it is used casually to mean 'trusted endorsement' from anyone whose opinion carries weight — a boss, an expert, or even popular opinion.
Examples
- 社長のお墨付きをもらったからこのプロジェクト進めていいよ。 The CEO gave it the stamp of approval, so we're good to move forward with this project.
- あの店は地元民のお墨付きだから間違いない。 That restaurant has the seal of approval from the locals, so you can't go wrong.
- 親のお墨付きがないと結婚の話進まないんだよね。 You can't move forward with marriage plans without the parents' stamp of approval.
Usage Guide
Context: business, everyday conversation, media
Tone: endorsing, authoritative
Do Say
- 医者のお墨付きもらったから大丈夫だよ (I got the doctor's stamp of approval so it's fine)
- プロのお墨付きなら安心して買える (If a pro endorses it, I can buy it with confidence)
Don't Say
- 自分の意見に「お墨付き」を使うのは不自然 (Using お墨付き about your own opinion sounds unnatural — it implies external authority)
Common Mistakes
- Using お墨付き for your own opinion rather than someone else's authoritative endorsement
- Not understanding the hierarchical nuance — the approval must come from someone with recognised authority
Origin & History
From the Edo period practice where the shogunate issued documents sealed with ink (墨) to grant official permission or recognition. The tradition of ink seals carried over as a metaphor for authoritative approval.
Cultural Context
Era: Edo period origin, still actively used in modern Japanese
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Common in business, media, and daily conversation.
Related Phrases
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