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目から鼻へ抜ける (めからはなへぬける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
very shrewd ; highly intelligent ; very smart
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression describing someone who is exceptionally quick-witted, perceptive, and clever, often with a nuance of being sharp enough to see through things instantly. Literally 'passing from the eyes to the nose', suggesting lightning-fast understanding.
That child is so highly intelligent that explaining once is enough.
Kanji 抜 slip out, extract, pull out Similar words 頭あたま が 切き れる Also means 'sharp' or 'quick-witted', but focuses more on intellectual sharpness and problem-solving ability, while 目から鼻へ抜ける emphasizes perceptiveness and shrewdness in seeing through things.
抜ぬ け 目め がない Means 'shrewd' or 'calculating' with a nuance of being careful and not missing opportunities; 目から鼻へ抜ける is more about innate quick-wittedness and intelligence.
Etymology The expression literally means 'to pass from the eyes to the nose', suggesting that understanding or perception moves so quickly that it seems to go directly from seeing to sensing, without any delay. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a well-established idiom in Japanese.
