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月下老人 (げっかろうじん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

月げっ下か老ろう人じん

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Meanings

1

noun

matchmaker; go-between

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)

A literary yojijukugo for a matchmaker, especially in romantic contexts. Often used in formal or poetic language. Compare with 月下氷人.

See also: 月下氷人

彼かれは二人ふたりの月げっ下か老ろう人じんとして尽じん力りょくした。
He worked hard as a matchmaker for the two.

月げっ下か老ろう人じんの役やくを買かって出でる。

I volunteer to play the role of matchmaker.

Kanji

月month, moon
下below, down, descend
老old man, old age, grow old
人person

Similar words

月げっ下か氷ひょう人じん
Synonymous yojijukugo also meaning matchmaker; 月下老人 is more directly associated with the legendary old man under the moon who ties couples together.
仲人なこうど
Common word for a matchmaker or go-between, especially in arranged marriages. 月下老人 is a more literary and figurative expression.

Etymology

From a Chinese legend about an old man under the moon who ties red threads to predestine marriages. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is conventionally associated with matchmaking.