漢おとこ

お

と

こ

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

man among men; man's man

Slang term for a man who embodies traditional masculine ideals: strong, reliable, and admirable. Often used in a complimentary or aspirational way among men.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉〉は漢おとこだsomeone is a real man's man
あいつは本ほん当とうに漢おとこだ。
That guy is a real man's man.
漢おとこらしい〈事こと〉〉something befitting a true man's man
彼かれの行こう動どうはまさに漢おとこらしい決けつ断だんだった。
His action was truly the decision of a man's man.
漢おとこの中なかの漢おとこa man among men, the manliest of manly men
彼かれこそ漢おとこの中なかの漢おとこと言いえるだろう。
He can truly be called a man among men.

Kanji

漢Sino-, China

Related words

男おとこN5
男 is the neutral, everyday word for 'man', while 漢 is a slangy, idealized term praising a man's strength and reliability.
好こう漢かん
好漢 is a somewhat literary word for a fine, upstanding man, whereas 漢 is casual slang used mainly among men to praise masculine qualities.

Don't confuse with

漢かん
漢 read かん is the ordinary on-reading meaning 'China' or used in compounds like 漢字, while 漢 read おとこ is a completely different slang usage praising a manly man.

Etymology

The kanji 漢 originally refers to China or the Han dynasty. Its use as slang for a 'real man' likely comes from the idea of a strong, heroic figure, possibly influenced by historical or fictional Chinese warriors. The reading おとこ is an irregular kun-reading applied to this kanji in this specific slang sense.