JLPT N2Four-character idioms
単刀直入
- Meaning
- 前置きなしにいきなり本題に入ること
- Explanation
- "単刀直入", from the sense of charging straight alone into the enemy ranks with a single sword, came to mean getting straight to the point without any preamble. It is used in conversations or negotiations. c1's "thrusting a sword in straight" is the literal meaning and lacks the figurative meaning of getting to the main point.
Original Japanese explanation
「単刀直入」は、一本の刀を持って単身まっすぐ敵陣に切り込む意から転じ、前置きをせずいきなり本題に入ることを表します。会話や交渉の場面で使います。c1の「刀をまっすぐ突き入れる」は字義どおりで、本題に入るという比喩の意味が抜けています。
Quick check
Choose the most appropriate meaning of "単刀直入".
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