amiability; friendliness; flattery
Used almost exclusively in the negative expressions にべもない or にべもなく, meaning 'bluntly', 'curtly', or 'without any pleasantries'.
See also: にべもない
He refused bluntly, without any pleasantries.
It was a curt reply.
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 鰾膠, 鮸膠, 鮸, 膠 are rare.
Rare kanji spelling for the fish-derived glue.
Rare kanji spelling for the fish-derived glue.
Rare single-character kanji form.
Rare single-character kanji form; also read にかわ.
The original sense is glue made from the swim bladder of the fish にべ（鮸）. Its adhesiveness gave rise to the figurative sense “amiability” or “sociability,” preserved especially in にべもない.