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骨皮筋右衛門 (ほねかわすじえもん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

骨皮筋右衛門ほねかわすじえもん

ほ

ね

か

わ

す

じ

え

も

ん

Meanings

1

skin and bones; nothing but skin and bones

A humorous, somewhat dated phrase describing someone extremely thin. Often used in a self-deprecating or joking manner.

病びょう気きで入にゅう院いんしていたら、骨ほね皮かわ筋すじ右え衛も門んに

なっ

て

しまっ

た

。

After being hospitalized with an illness, I ended up nothing but skin and bones.

Kanji

骨skeleton, bone, remains
皮pelt, skin, hide
筋muscle, sinew, tendon
右right
衛defense, protection
門gate, counter for cannons

Related words

痩やせこける
痩せこける is a standard verb meaning 'to become emaciated', while 骨皮筋右衛門 is a humorous, old-fashioned set phrase for the same state.
骨ほねと皮かわばかり
骨と皮ばかり is a more common, straightforward expression for 'nothing but skin and bones', lacking the playful tone of 骨皮筋右衛門.

Etymology

The exact origin is uncertain. It appears to be a playful Edo-period coinage combining 骨 (bone), 皮 (skin), 筋 (sinew), and the common male name suffix 右衛門, humorously personifying extreme thinness.