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人を食う (ひとをくう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-u)
insolent ; arrogant ; impudent ; rude
idiomatic expression
Describes a person's attitude or behavior as looking down on others, often with a provocative or mocking tone. Frequently used in the past tense form 人を食った to modify a noun (e.g., 人を食った態度).
His insolent attitude really gets on my nerves.
Similar words 生なま 意い 気き 生意気 is a more common and direct word for cheeky or impertinent behavior, often used for younger people. 人を食う emphasizes a mocking, condescending attitude and is more idiomatic.
傲ごう 慢まん 傲慢 is a formal term for arrogance and haughtiness, often describing a person's character. 人を食う is more colloquial and focuses on the act of belittling others.
Etymology Literally 'to eat a person,' an idiomatic expression where 食う (eat) metaphorically means to treat someone as beneath oneself, as if consuming them. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of devouring or overwhelming another person socially.
