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一頭地を抜く (いっとうちをぬく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

一いっ頭とう地ちを抜ぬく

い

っ

と

う

ち

を

ぬ

く

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

stand out from the crowd; be head and shoulders above the rest

Idiomatic expression meaning to be conspicuously superior or outstanding compared to others. Often used in competitive or comparative contexts.

彼かれは同どう期きの中なかで一いっ頭とう地ちを抜ぬく実じつ力りょくを持もっている。
He has ability that stands out among his peers.
この作さく

品ひん

は

他ほか

の

応おう

募ぼ

作さく

品ひん

より

一いっ

頭とう

地ち

を

抜ぬ

い

て

いる

。

This work is head and shoulders above the other entries.

Kanji

一one, one radical (no.1)
頭head, counter for large animals
地ground, earth
抜slip out, extract, pull out

Similar words

抜ぬきん出でる
Similar meaning of being outstanding, but 一頭地を抜く is a set phrase with a more literary feel, while 抜きん出る is a single verb used in both spoken and written language.
頭とう角かくを現あらわす
Both mean to distinguish oneself, but 頭角を現す emphasizes the process of emerging or showing one's talent, whereas 一頭地を抜く focuses on the result of being clearly superior.

Etymology

The phrase originates from classical Chinese literature, where 一頭地 (lit. 'one head's length') referred to a lead or advantage. Combined with 抜く ('to pull out, surpass'), it conveys the image of being ahead by a head's length, i.e., markedly superior.