Akanbe

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Japanese Facial Gesture Akanbe.jpg

Akanbe (あかんべえ, Akanbē), also spelled Akkanbee (あっかんべー, アッカンベー), is a facial gesture often used in Japan indicating sarcasm but also used as a taunt. It consists of one pulling down one's lower eyelid to expose the red underside towards someone else, often accompanied by sticking one's tongue out.[1]

The use of the term was first mentioned by early twentieth-century author Katai Tayama, in his 1909 story (田舎教師, "Rural Teacher"), as a gesture used by the male students in the story. In the story, it gives the etymology as a corruption of akai me (赤い目, "red eye").[2]

Mon œil[]

In France, the gesture of pulling down one's lower eyelid and saying mon œil, or "my eye", is an expression of disdainful, dismissive disbelief.[3]

My eye[]

The statement "my eye" is also an archaic term of disbelief in English, though without the physical gesture. For example, one may respond to an incredible claim of "That was an accident" with "Accident, my eye!"[4]

Occhio[]

In Italian culture, to say occhio (eye), often gesturing to, touching or indicating own eye, is equivalent to say be careful.[5]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Akihiko Yonekawa. Beyond Polite Japanese. Tokyo:Kodansha International, 2001. Print, p. 133. https://books.google.com/books?id=MCDAP7wOOswC
  2. ^ "Lesson 7 ボディ・ランゲージ Gestures". Gakko Tosho. 2003. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  3. ^ Mon œil!
    The French expression mon œil ! is used to express either incredulous/ironic disbelief, like the English expressions "my foot!" or "yeah, right!", or an almost indignant refusal, as in "no way!" or "ain't gonna happen!"
  4. ^ Word Wizard: My eye! / My foot!
    • 1842 “Church, MY EYE, woman! church indeed!”—‘Handy Andy’ by S. Lover
    • 1905 “‘Tragic, MY EYE!’ said my friend irreverently.”—in ‘Works’ of O. Henry
    • 1928 “Gentlemen, ME EYE! You’ve got to get over being gentleman if you’re going to play football on my team!”—in ‘Sport’ by Paxton
    • 1929 ‘How about Bigelow's Mill . .. that's a factory.’ ‘Factory MY EYE.’”—‘The Sound and the Fury’ by Faulkner
  5. ^ Collins Dictionary

External links[]

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