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一目も二目も置く (いちもくもにもくもおく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

一いち目もくも二に目もくも置おく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

acknowledge someone's superiority; take one's hat off to someone

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression meaning to fully recognize that someone is far better than oneself, often used when the speaker feels they cannot compete. Stronger than 一目置く.

See also: 一目置く

彼かれの技ぎ術じゅつには一いち目もくも二に目もくも置おいている。
I really take my hat off to his skill.

あの人ひとの知ち識しきには一いち目もくも二に目もくも置おかざるを得えない。

I can't help but acknowledge that person's superior knowledge.

Kanji

一one, one radical (no.1)
目eye, class, look
二two, two radical (no. 7)
置placement, put, set

Similar words

一いち目もく置おく
一目置く means to acknowledge someone's superiority to some extent, while 一目も二目も置く is a stronger, more emphatic version.

Etymology

Derived from the game of Go, where placing one stone (一目) or two stones (二目) as a handicap acknowledges the opponent's superiority. The expression extends this to general recognition of someone's excellence.