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ドスの効いた (どすのきいた) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ドスの効きいた

Meanings

1

expression, noun-modifying (irregular)

threatening; menacing

Describes a voice, tone, or words that carry an intimidating, gangster-like menace. Often used in contexts involving yakuza or tough characters.

See also: ドスの効いた声

彼かれはドスの効きいた声こえで「動うごくな」と言いった。
He said 'Don't move' in a threatening voice.
あの俳はい優ゆうはドスの効きいた演えん技ぎが得とく意いだ。
That actor is good at menacing performances.

Written forms

ドスの効きいた
Standard kanji-katakana spelling; ドス is a slang term for a threatening tone or menace.
ドスの利きいた
Variant using 利く instead of 効く; both are common.
どすの効きいた
Kana spelling of ドス; less common but still seen.
どすの利きいた
Kana spelling with 利く variant.

Kanji

効merit, efficacy, efficiency
利

profit, advantage, benefit

Similar words

ドス
ドス is the noun meaning 'menace' or 'threatening tone'; ドスの効いた is the adjectival phrase derived from it.
脅おどす
脅す is a general verb for 'to threaten'; ドスの効いた specifically describes the quality of the threat, often with a gangster nuance.

Etymology

From ドス (slang for a threatening tone, possibly from the sound of a sword being drawn or from a dialectal word) + 効いた (past form of 効く, 'to be effective'). The phrase literally means 'with menace working effectively'.