派手

• Reading: はで
• Romaji: hade
• Kanji breakdown: 派 (ha) — faction, school (ateji); 手 (de/te) — hand (ateji)
• Pronunciation: /ha.de/

Meaning

Showy; flashy; gaudy; flamboyant. Describes something eye-catching or extravagant.

A na-adjective describing things that stand out through bright colours, bold patterns, or extravagant behaviour. Common patterns: 派手な服 (flashy clothes), 派手に遊ぶ (party hard), 派手な化粧 (heavy makeup). Can be positive (lively, vibrant) or negative (garish, over-the-top) depending on context. The opposite is 地味 (jimi, plain/modest).

Examples

1. 彼女はいつも派手な服を着ている。 She always wears flashy clothes.
2. 結婚式は派手にしないでシンプルにしたい。 I don't want a flashy wedding — I want something simple.
3. あの派手な看板のお店が気になっている。 I've been curious about that store with the flashy sign.

Usage Guide

Context: fashion, lifestyle, personality

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

The kanji 派 (ha, faction/school) and 手 (de/te, hand) are ateji — phonetic kanji with no direct semantic link. The word likely derives from はえて (haete, 'projecting/standing out'), evolving to describe things that catch the eye.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal