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啖呵を切る (たんかをきる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ru)
speak sharply ; talk tough ; give a piece of one's mind
Used when someone speaks in a sharp, confrontational, or aggressive manner, often during an argument or heated discussion. The expression is idiomatic and implies a forceful, no-holds-barred style of speaking.
議ぎ 論ろん が 白はく 熱ねつ し て 、 つい 啖たん 呵か を 切き っ て しまっ た 。
The debate got heated, and I ended up speaking sharply.
Similar words 怒ど 鳴な る 怒鳴る means to shout or yell angrily, while 啖呵を切る focuses on the sharp, confrontational content of the speech rather than just the volume.
言い い 返かえ す 言い返す means to talk back or retort, often in a defensive manner. 啖呵を切る implies a more aggressive, proactive verbal attack.
Etymology 啖呵 (tanka) originally referred to a sharp, cutting remark or a scolding. Combined with 切る (to cut), the expression literally means 'to cut with sharp words,' figuratively meaning to speak sharply or aggressively. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used in Japanese since at least the Edo period.
