Japanese

だんぱつぶんしん
Meaning: cropped hair and tattooed body; an old phrase for a custom described in ancient Chinese sources
Part of Speech: Noun, Four-character idiom

Listen to pronunciation

Example

断髪文身は古代中国の文献で呉越の風習として語られた。
In ancient Chinese texts, cropped hair and tattooing were described as customs of the Wu and Yue region.

Usage Notes

The idiom appears in historical and classical contexts. Older dictionaries may call the custom uncivilized, so explain that judgment as a historical viewpoint rather than using it neutrally today.

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