字じ眼がん

noun

decisive character; pivotal word

A term from Chinese poetry criticism referring to the single character in a line that is considered the most crucial or expressive, often a verb or adjective that brings the line to life. Rare in everyday Japanese; encountered mainly in literary or academic contexts.

• 漢かん詩しでは、一いっ句くの中なかで最もっとも重じゅう要ような字じを「字じ眼がん」と呼よぶ。

  In Chinese poetry, the most important character in a line is called the 'decisive character' (字眼).