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頭ごなし (あたまごなし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
adverb, noun
unsparingly ; without listening ; without giving a chance to explain
Almost always used in the adverbial phrase 頭ごなしに, meaning to reject, scold, or criticize someone without hearing them out or giving them a chance to explain.
上じょう 司し に 頭あたま ごなし に 叱しか ら れ て 、 何なに も 言い え なかっ た 。
I was scolded unsparingly by my boss and couldn't say anything.
Kanji 頭 head, counter for large animals Similar words 一いっ 方ぽう 的てき 一方的 means 'one-sided' in a broader sense (e.g., a one-sided decision, one-sided love), while 頭ごなし specifically implies shutting someone down without listening.
有う 無む を 言い わさず 有無を言わさず means 'without giving someone a say' and is similar in meaning, but 頭ごなし emphasizes the refusal to listen or consider the other person's explanation.
Etymology Compound of 頭 (atama, 'head') and ごなし (gonashi), from the verb ごなす (gonasu, 'to break into pieces, to treat roughly'). Literally 'head-breaking', implying a forceful, dismissive attitude.
